Specialist Capabilities Programme Invitation to Tender

This paper requests approval for an Invitation to Tender (ITT) for continued consultancy support to the national Specialist Capabilities Programme, which forms part of the wider Police Reform work being undertaken by NPCC and APCC and which is overseen by the Police Reform and Transformation Board (PRTB).

The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is recommended to approve:

• An Invitation to Tender (ITT) for continued consultancy support to the national Specialist Capabilities Programme, which forms part of the wider police reform work being undertaken by NPCC and APCC and which is overseen by the Police Reform and Transformation Board (PRTB).

• The consultancy support will be contracted through Bloom for a period of 12 months at a cost of up to £600k, which will be fully funded by the Police Transformation Fund.

1. Introduction and background

1.1. In April 2016, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) embarked upon an ambitious national programme to consider options for the future delivery of specialist policing capabilities.

1.2. The purpose of the programme is to develop new approaches to the delivery of critical high-level police capabilities which are becoming more technical, specialised and expensive, as well as increasingly difficult to sustain and operate on a single force basis. The work is focused on creating the conditions for cooperation and coordination between forces. Fundamentally, ‘networked policing’ is the mechanism by which law enforcement in England and Wales will work more closely in a more coordinated way from a local to a national level, both internally within law enforcement and more widely with partners.

2. Issues for consideration

2.1. As a consequence of the annual funding cycle for Police Transformation Funding (PTF), this is the third invitation to tender (ITT) for continued consultancy support for the Specialist Capabilities Programme.

2.2. The proposal is for the resources required to be procured through Bloom Procurement Services on behalf of Metropolitan Police Service Commercial Services and supported by MOPAC, in line with the previous two procurements.

3. Financial Comments

3.1. The total cost of consultancy for this work will be between £450-600K and will be funded by the Police Transformation Fund. As with all PTF bids, ministerial sign off is awaited.

4. Legal Comments

4.1. The Bloom neutral vendor route represents a compliant route to procure the required services.

5. Equality Comments

5.1. There are no adverse equality or diversity implications associated with this recommendation.

5.2. The successful provider will be evaluated for an acceptable equality and diversity statement as well as their ability to meet the MPS requirements under the Equality Act 2010 as a supplier to MOPAC.

6. Background/supporting papers

6.1. Report