DMFD299 Procurement of smoke alarms and associated products

1.1.    The Fire and Rescue Services Act (2004) places a statutory duty on each fire and rescue service, to “make provision for the purpose of promoting fire safety within its area”. In response, LFB works with partner organisations and communities to provide a range of fire safety resources to Londoners, including an online Home Fire Safety Checker. 

1.2.    When LFB (or one of its partners) identifies an individual at sufficiently high risk of harm from fire, it offers an in-person home fire safety visit (HFSV). During a HFSV, LFB tests any existing smoke alarms and fits replacement or additional smoke alarms if required. 

1.3.    Until the end of May 2025, LFB had a call-off contract to buy smoke alarms and associated equipment, via a West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service (WMFRS) procurement framework (see DMFD145). Since then, LFB has used a single-source justification arrangement to continue buying the equipment until a new contract is let. 
 

2.1.    LFB’s primary objective is to procure smoke alarms and associated equipment through a current WMFRS procurement framework, that will be in place until 2029. LFB reports that this will ensure:
•    frontline staff have access to the equipment they need to install or replace smoke alarms in the homes of residents identified as being at increased risk from fire
•    LFB is compliant with statutory requirements on fire safety.

2.2.    LFB has conducted its own analysis of the likely costs of using the WMFRS framework between 2026 and 2029. It has concluded that procurement through this framework will meet the needs of Londoners, and provide value for money. LFB’s cost estimates are set out in part 2. 
 

3.1.    The LFC, and the Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and the Fire Service (the Deputy Mayor), are required to have due regard to the Public Sector Equality Duty (section 149 of the Equality Act 2010) when taking decisions. The Public Sector Equality Duty requires the identification and evaluation of the likely potential impacts, both positive and negative, of the decision on those with protected characteristics (see paragraph 3.3). 

3.2.    It is important to note that consideration of the Public Sector Equality Duty is not a one-off task. The duty must be fulfilled before taking a decision; at the time of taking a decision; and after the decision has been taken. 

3.3.    The protected characteristics are: age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership (but only in respect of the requirements to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination), race (ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality), religion or belief (including lack of belief), sex, and sexual orientation. 

3.4.    The Public Sector Equality Duty requires decision-takers in the exercise of all their functions, to have due regard to the need to: 
•    eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other prohibited conduct 
•    advance equality of opportunity between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it 
•    foster good relations between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it. 

3.5.    Having due regard to the need to advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it involves having due regard, in particular, to the need to: 
•    remove or minimise disadvantages suffered by persons who share a relevant protected characteristic where those disadvantages are connected to that characteristic 
•    take steps to meet the needs of persons who share a relevant protected characteristic that are different from the needs of persons who do not share it 
•    encourage persons who share a relevant protected characteristic to participate in public life or in any other activity in which participation by such persons is disproportionately low. 

3.6.    The steps involved in meeting the needs of disabled persons, that are different from the needs of persons who are not disabled, particularly include steps to take account of disabled persons’ disabilities. 

3.7.    Having due regard to the need to foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it involves having due regard, in particular, to the need to: 
•    tackle prejudice 
•    promote understanding. 

3.8.    Smoke alarms provide inherent life-saving benefits. The WMFRS framework includes systems that support D/deaf people and people with hearing loss; people who are blind or have sight loss; physically disabled and/or older people who are most at risk from fire; and people with learning differences. Examples include: 
•    vibrating pads and strobe lights that are compliant with relevant British Standards Institute standards
•    Braille translations and easy-read fire safety guides.  

3.9.    LFC-26-071 identifies a minor negative impact for people with sight loss. The proposed supplier does not supply the same high-visibility stickers that LFB currently uses. LFB plans to mitigate this by sourcing them outside the contract, at minimal retail cost.
 

Procurement comments
4.1.    WMFRS established the Framework for Smoke Alarms and Associated Products in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The framework was advertised from January 2025 and is available to all UK fire and rescue services. 

4.2.    LFB reports that this framework provides a compliant and efficient route to market for the procurement of smoke alarms and associated products; and permits direct award without the need for further competition. LFB assessed suppliers against price; customer service and returns processes; resilience; product quality; and social value.

4.3.    LFB’s recommended supplier achieved the highest overall ranking in the relevant lots. LFB therefore proposes to make a direct award under the framework rules, securing the highest-ranked supplier without undertaking a further competition.

4.4.    LFB considers that this approach:
•    delivers value for money, maintains continuity of supply, reduces procurement timescales and remains compliant with procurement legislation
•    provides assurance that the supplier has been selected through a compliant competitive process and achieved the strongest overall evaluation score. 

Sustainability comments
4.5.    LFB does not anticipate any sustainability issues from this procurement. LFC-26-071 notes that it: 
•    complies with the GLA Responsible Procurement Policy
•    supports collaboration via the WMFRS framework 
•    ensures alarms meet environmental standards. 
The end-of-life disposal of smoke alarms remains the homeowner’s responsibility under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2013. 

Conflicts of interest 
4.6.    There are no conflicts of interest to declare from those involved in the drafting or clearance of this decision.
 

5.1.    LFC-26-071 seeks authority to award a supplier contract to commit revenue expenditure up to the maximum amount as set out in part 2, in financial years 2026-27, 2027-28 and 2028-29. This is in line with current spending and is included in LFB’s baseline budget within Fire Stations. 

5.2.    LFC-26-071 part 2 shows current and forecast spending in detail and sets out a cashable saving. LFB will do a full cost appraisal upon approval. LFB will closely monitor this spending, and LFB will consider any savings identified as part of the budget process.  
 

6.1.    LFB’s General Counsel’s department has confirmed the following. 

6.2.    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. 

6.3.    Pursuant to section 327D of the Greater London Authority Act 1999, as amended, 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. 

6.4.    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. 

6.5.    Paragraph (b) of Part 2 of the said 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 practices”. The decision to purchase smoke alarms and associated products at a cost set out in this decision over three financial years will therefore require approval from the Deputy Mayor. 

6.6.    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). Section 7 (2)(a) of the FRSA 2004 states that the LFC has the power to secure the provision of personnel, services and equipment necessary to efficiently meet all normal requirements for firefighting. Section 5A allows the LFC to procure personnel, services and equipment they consider appropriate for purposes incidental or indirectly incidental to their functional purposes. 

6.7.    LFC-26-071 confirms the provision of smoke alarms and associated products will be secured via the relevant WMFRS framework. This was tendered in compliance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, and is available to the LFC to use.
 

DMFD299 Part 1 - Appendix 1 - LFC-26-071