This is a contract result notice, not an open opportunity. Details from the official award data.

contract in January 2022 following a joint tender with Essex Fire Service.

On the original tender there were No other companies who provided a submission, for Kent and the feedback was this particular area is limited in companies able to deliver to the specification, and companies willing to participate in a tender process.

With the contract running out and the 1-year extension already taken procurement have reached out to Essex Fire Service (EFS) to understand how their contract has worked with their supplier.

EFS advised they have had issues with their incumbent in communication, availability of vehicles and delivery of cars to locations.

EFS also advised their incumbent were not willing to continue the contract and take up the one-year extension.

This has meant they have been out of contract and trying to buy vehicles for training on an ad hoc basis.

EFS have since tendered for a new provider but again the responses were limited, and costs were significantly higher although they are still evaluating at this stage.

Procurement have also contacted over 10 companies within Kent that potentially offering scrap car.

The majority of companies responded, do not de-pollute vehicles and cannot supply regularly for our training requirements and would not be able to guarantee vehicles to cover our requirements.

Some have said they would not want to be part of a tender process.

Another option procurement has considered is setting up a potential Framework for the supply and removal of redundant vehicles for road traffic collision training through a company called CPRAS who offered to contact providers who can offer to the specification, ascertain interest to a framework and subsequent tender.

However, based on their research there were no other companies in Kent currently able to offer what we require, or willing to be part of any tender process or wanting to be on a contract through a Framework.

Looking at Ling Metals and the current contract, the feedback has been very good, and the contract management and relationship has been excellent.

The contract has been successful for KFRS, and Ling Metals have provided all our requirements for the supply and removal of redundant vehicles throughout our locations requiring vehicles for training.

Having had a contract meeting with regards to Ling Metals KFRS knowing there is very limited companies able to deliver our requirements who are reliable and competitive in price, there is a worry to potentially lose this provider and relationship that has been built in delivering a vital service for training does course a risk to the service and could affect essential training needs.