Supply and Delivery of Weapon Systems and Equipment

This proposal details the request for a single tender action to be approved in order to award a contract to a sole UK weapons provider for the supply of weapons and to initiate via competitive tender a contract for Firearms accessories and equipment to the Metropolitan Police Service. This requirement is essential to ensure that the MPS armed capability can effectively meet and sustain the operational and training demands for the current and future police firearms training plans. Awarding a contract will allow Commercial Service to have a compliant call off mechanism to directly purchase additional weapons promptly when required.

The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is recommended to:

• Approve the award a contract via the negotiated procedure to a sole UK reseller for weapon systems for a 36-month term. Estimated Total upper Contract Value is £2.5m.

• To note the initial call off purchase via this contract is for immediate need for weapons for MO19 Training. Estimate initial contract value is £410k.

• To note that these specific weapons are only available via a sole UK/EU reseller due to exclusive arrangements with the manufacture, which is common practice for this firearms industry

• To note there is a review of Firearms currently being undertaken by the One Met Model Programme 5 (OMM5). The outcome of this might have implications that require the purchase of additional weapons.

• To note all Call Offs will be approved by Director of Commercial Services and Uplift Board. Periodic updates to PIB and IAM can be made if market or the MPS preferred weapon platform change.

• Approval to initiate and award a call off contract via a competitive tender process for Firearms Accessories and Equipment. Initial term of the contract will be 24 months with one option to extend for up to 12 months. Estimated Contract Value will be £1.5m. Interim arrangements will be relied upon until this is concluded.

1. Introduction and background

1.1. Approving the MPS Firearms uplift was one of the Mayors commitments and this requirement provides sustainability for that increased capability.

1.2. This requirement contributes to the delivering safety and security perception as having visible armed police officers (ARV’s) in front line services, provides reassurances to the public, especially at vulnerable places i.e. London airports and public events.

1.3. Having additional specialist armed officers (CTSFO’s) able to resolve high threat scenarios reassures the public that the police are suitably trained and equipped to deal with the terrorist threat currently facing London

2. Issues for consideration

2.1. There is a high-level overview of firearms currently being undertaken by the One Met Model Programme 5 (OMM5). The outcome of this may require the purchase of additional weapons. All Call-Offs will be approved by the Director of Commercial Services and the Uplift Board.

3. Financial Comments

3.1. Expenditure will be funded from existing budgets.

4. Legal Comments

4.1. DLS confirms that Regulation 32 (5) (b) could apply which would justify not competing this contract but Regulation 32 (6) states that “In the case of paragraph (5) (b), the duration of the contract, as well as that of recurrent contracts shall not, save in exceptional circumstances, exceed 3 years.” In this case the proposed contract award is for up to 5 years as this is considered ‘exceptional circumstances’.

4.2. In accordance with paragraph 4.13 of the Scheme of Delegation ‘All contract exemptions for £100,000 or above’ DMPC approval is required.

5. GDPR and Data Privacy

5.1. The proposal does not use personally identifiable data therefore there are no GDPR issues to be considered.

6. Equality Comments

6.1. There are no equality or diversity implications arising from this report.

7. Background/supporting papers

7.1. MPS report