DMFD264 Procurement of SAFEcommand™ software

1.1.    Report LFC-25-019 to the London Fire Commissioner (LFC) provides a detailed overview of the proposal to reprocure software to support the London Fire Brigade’s (LFB) operational response to incidents. 
1.2.    As part of the national Firelink project, LFB introduced new digital technology to its appliances, including the installation of mobile data terminals (MDTs) in 2009. There are currently 176 MDTs in use, supported on a 24/7 basis. A project is under way to replace all of these devices with upgraded hardware running the Windows 11 operating system and the latest Airbus SAFEcommand™ software.
1.3.    The MDTs allow crews to access operationally relevant data on the way to, and at, incidents. 
 

2.1.    The objective of this decision is to secure authorisation to reprocure the Airbus SAFEcommand™ system, which includes modules for mobilising, guiding, messaging, crash recovery, risk information and chemical hazards.
2.2.    The proposed contract length is three years, with break clauses included.
2.3.    A successful procurement will ensure that continuity of service is maintained. This will allow the MDTs installed in appliances and other Brigade vehicles to continue receiving information from the Vision mobilising system.
 

3.1.    An equality impact assessment has not been undertaken in respect of this decision. If the decision is approved and the SAFEcommand™ software is reprocured, the LFC will continue to use the SAFEcommand™ software that has been in use for several years.  
3.2.    Continued use of this software will have no impact on any persons with the protected characteristics of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. 
 

4.1.    The requirements have been assessed by LFB’s procurement team. The initial assessment on the route to market has identified the Crown Commercial Services, Vertical Application Solutions framework (RM 6259). This framework expires on 6 March 2027, so allows plenty of time to conduct a procurement using the direct award process. 
4.2.    The direct award process is considered appropriate, as only Airbus can realistically meet the requirements due to the inherent dependencies with the current Vison mobilising system. Possible competitive routes will be looked at in the next couple of years to inform the next procurement. 
 

5.1.    The decision paper seeks approval to renew the existing Airbus SAFEcommand™ system agreement by a further three years, upon expiry of the current agreement in August 2025.  All costs related to the renewed agreement will be solely funded by the LFC.
5.2.    As an ongoing requirement, the system has been operational for several years. There is sufficient budget cover for the agreement renewal across all years.
 

6.1.    Under section 9 of the Policing and Crime Act 2017, the LFC is established as a corporation sole with the Mayor appointing the occupant of that office. Under section 327D of the GLA Act 1999, as amended by the Policing and Crime Act 2017, the Mayor may issue to the LFC specific or general directions as to the manner in which the holder of that office is to exercise his or her functions.
6.2.    By direction dated 1 April 2018, the Mayor set out those matters, for which the LFC would require the prior approval of either the Mayor or the Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and the Fire Service (the Deputy Mayor).
6.3.    Paragraph (b) of Part 2 of that direction requires the LFC to seek the prior approval of the Deputy Mayor before “[a] commitment to expenditure (capital or revenue) of £150,000 or above as identified in accordance with normal accounting practice”. The Deputy Mayor's approval is accordingly required for the LFC to expend the sums set out in part 2 of this report.
6.4.    The statutory basis for the actions proposed in this report is provided by sections 7 and 5A of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 (FRSA 2004). Under section 7 (2)(a) FRSA 20014, the LFC has the power to secure the provision of personnel, services and equipment necessary to efficiently meet all normal requirements for firefighting; and section 5A allows the LFC to procure personnel, services and equipment they consider appropriate for purposes incidental or indirectly incidental to their functional purposes.
6.5.    This procurement will be carried out in compliance with the Procurement Regulations and the LFC’s standing orders on procurement.
 

Appendix 1 – Report LFC-25-019 – Procurement of Safecommand™