Winners named for £150 million UK public sector Fire Safety Framework

The timely launch of FS2 will support organisations in meeting their legal responsibilities for fire safety under the Building Safety Act 2022 and the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2023. This includes requirements introduced by the Building Safety Regulator relating to wider building safety standards and fire safety measures for building control approval for higher-risk buildings.

Building on the LHC Procurement Group’s former FS1 framework, FS2 now provides both passive and active services to help with fire prevention, detection, alert and suppression measures. It also offers the expertise necessary to meet requirements under the Fire Safety Act 2021.

Pace and scale of change

Clive Feeney, group managing director of the LHC Procurement Group – itself a not-for-profit built environment, compliance and consultancy framework provider delivering exclusively for the public sector – said: “The pace and scale of change around building and fire safety in the last two years has been unmatched for decades. FS2 arrives at a pivotal point for housing associations and local authorities looking for high-level expertise to navigate legal requirements following the introduction of the Building Safety Regulator and the new building control regime, plus recent updates to fire safety regulations.”

Feeney continued: “In developing FS2, we’ve worked with a range of public sector organisations to tailor it directly to their needs. Clients informed us that a greater availability of regional suppliers, and notably so SMEs, was a high priority. FS2 offers exactly that, with 76% of the appointed companies being small and micro businesses.”

In conclusion, Feeney noted: “As well as offering improved access to local expertise, FS2 presents more opportunities for the public sector, fire safety specialists and consultants to make a difference to communities throughout the UK. Projects procured through FS2 will include wider support for community initiatives and more regional employment opportunities. It will deliver a pipeline of work into the local economy for years to come.”

Main categories

FS2’s eight workstreams have been categorised in four main areas: consultancy and risk management, fire safety installations, fire safety servicing and maintenance and cladding remediation.

The framework is worth £110 million in England, £15 million in Wales and £25 million in Scotland and is now available via both direct award and mini competition through LHC’s business units across the country.

The latter include the Scottish Procurement Alliance, Consortium Procurement Construction, the Welsh Procurement Alliance and LHC London and South East England.

As well as housing associations and local authorities, FS2 is available to other public sector organisations including hospitals, schools, leisure centres, museums and universities.

*For more information visit https://www.lhcprocure.org.uk/solutions/