PCD 1750 Live Fire Skills House FM services

This paper seeks approval to initiate procurement and award a contract for the supply of facilities management services at the newly completed Live Fire Skills House (LFSH) at the MPS Specialist Training Centre at Gravesend. The estimated contract value is £1,574,000 over a three year term.   

The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is recommended to:   

1. Approve the procurement of a Total Facilities Management Contract with a proposed contract value of £1,574,000 over 3 years.  

2. To award the contract to the successful bidder following a compliant competitive procedure within a 10% tolerance of the values outlined in this paper. This will be signed off by the MPS Commercial Director under delegated authority. 

PART I - NON-CONFIDENTIAL FACTS AND ADVICE TO THE DMPC 

1. Introduction and background  

1. The MPS operates a range of training at the MPS Specialist Training Centre at Gravesend including public disorder and firearms.  The provision of all necessary structures, accommodation, support services and equipment is under a PFI which is in place until February 2028. 

2. During 2023-24 the MPS invested in the development of a Live Fire Skills House (LFSH) on the wider site at Gravesend.  The PFI provider is currently supplying the FM services to LFSH for the term from the opening of the Skills House (September 2024) for a period of 12 months. 

2. Issues for consideration 

1. This paper seeks approval for the procurement and award of contract for the range of facilities management services needed to support the Live Fire Skills House.  The services include both planned and reactive services in relation to mechanical, electrical, cleaning, waste, grounds maintenance, general building works, and pest control.  

2. The term of the proposed contract is for 3 years to co-terminate with the end of the wider PFI arrangement at Gravesend. 

3. Further detail is set out in the restricted section of this paper. 

3. Financial Comments  

1. The MPS has assured that the estimated contract cost of upto £1,574,000 over the three years is funded from within existing MPS budgets. 

4. Legal Comments 

1. MOPAC is a contracting authority as defined in the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (the Regulations). All awards of public contracts for goods and/or services valued at £214,904 or above shall be procured in accordance with the Regulations. This report confirms the value of the proposed contract exceeds this threshold. This report confirms the MOPAC’s route to market is compliant with the Regulations. 

2. The MOPAC Scheme of Delegation and Consent provides the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime (“DMPC”) has delegated authority to approve: 

• Business cases for revenue or capital expenditure of £500,000 and above (paragraph 4.8); and 

• All requests to go out to tender for contracts of £500,000 or above, or where there is a particular public interest (paragraph 4.13). 

3. Paragraph 7.23 of the Scheme provides that the Director of Strategic Procurement has consent for the approval of the award of all contracts, with the exception of those called in through the agreed call-in procedure. Paragraph 4.14 of the Scheme provides the DMPC reserves the right to call in any MPS proposal to award a contract for £500,000 or above.  

5. Commercial Comments 

1. This procurement seeks the provision of a range of facility management services as set out above.  

2. The proposed contract is for a upto 3-year term effective from September 2025. This includes a six months contract headroom and duration to allow the continuation of services beyond the February 2028 PFI contract end should this option be required. A Client Contract Break clause will be included to allow transfer of services into the new PFI supply chain if fully mobilised at the Feb 2028 juncture. 

3. The route to market is to be via restricted tender to maximise market interest and opportunities for Small Medium Enterprises.  

4. The MPS assure that is supports the Mayor’s Responsible Procurement Policy including: Enhancing Social Value, Encouraging Inclusion, Diversity and Equality, Embedding fair employment practices, Enabling skills, training and employment opportunities, promoting ethical sourcing practices and improving environmental sustainability.  All supplier contracts awarded on behalf of MOPAC mandate the Mayor for London’s minimum wage payment to all employees.   

6. GDPR and Data Privacy  

1. MOPAC will adhere to the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018 and ensure that any organisations who are commissioned to do work with or on behalf of MOPAC are fully compliant with the policy and understand their GDPR responsibilities.   

2. The MPS assure that this proposal does not use personally identifiable data of members of the public and so there are no GDPR issues to be considered. 

7. Equality Comments  

1. MOPAC is required to comply with the public sector equality duty set out in section 149(1) of the Equality Act 2010. This requires MOPAC to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations by reference to people with protected characteristics. The protected characteristics are: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. 

2. The MPS assure that there are considered to be no negative equality or diversity implications arising from this process negating the requirement to present any mitigation. Any approved suppliers will be evaluated for acceptable equality and diversity statements, as well as their ability to meet the MPS requirements under the Equality Act 2010 as suppliers to MOPAC. The evaluation exercise will consider their ability to act as a responsible employer and meet employment obligations deemed commensurate with wider GLA objectives. 

8. Background/supporting papers 

• Appendix 1 MPS Report – The Provision of Total Facilities Management to Live Fire Skills House, Gravesend