Provision of a Telecommunications service for the Emergency Services of England, Scotland and Wales

Concepts

• telecommunications services
• emergency services of england
• edinburgh
• provision of a telecommunications service
• wales
• scotland
• emergency services
• emergency services of england scotland
• england
• control room communication services

Location

United Kingdom:

Description

Provision of a secure, private communications network providing telecommunications for the emergency services of England Scotland and Wales, also providing the ability for the three emergency services to talk to each other and to other public safety organisations.

Total Quantity or Scope

The Airwave network is the communications system used by the Emergency Services in Scotland, England and Wales, providing digital radio communications along with other functions such as telephony, text messaging and control room communication services. Airwave services are provided by Airwave Solutions Limited under a Home Office Framework Arrangement

Award Detail

Renewal Options

The Target National Shut Down Date of December 2026 can be extended at the discretion of the Authority.

Award Criteria

CPV Codes

• 64200000 - Telecommunications services
• 32412000 - Communications network

Indicators

• Options are available.

Legal Justification

The Home Office meets the regulation 32 (2) (b) (ii) test as outlined below: The Airwave network is the communications system used by all the emergency services in Scotland, England and Wales. It is a secure private communications network, using land mobile, TETRA - TErrestrial Trunked RAdio technology, which enables the three emergency services to be able to seamlessly talk to each other (interoperate) during major incidents and also enables them to interoperate with other public safety organisations such as for example the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and mountain rescue teams. The Airwave network is a closed proprietary network owned and operated by Airwave Solutions Limited (a Motorola company). It is made available to the emergency services under four key contracts*(Contracts) made pursuant to the Home Office's PFI Framework Arrangement for the Public Safety Radio Communications Service (the FA). The Airwave network is critical national infrastructure (CNI) and Airwave is the only supplier of this network in Great Britain. No other TETRA network exists in GB nor is it possible for an alternative to TETRA to be developed, established and rolled out in the required timescales to ensure continuity of service demands and the technical and security requirements of the Emergency Services. There is no other suitable network in Great Britain that could be used by the emergency services until the new national Emergency Services Network (ESN) is brought into service. The ESN is intended to be the replacement network for the Airwave network and was originally expected to be developed and rolled out in 2022. There have been significant setbacks and delays in the development of the ESN, including the transition from the Airwave network to ESN. Those setbacks mean that the provision of the Airwave network has to be continued in the interim until the ESN is ready and has been fully tested and validated. The continuity and technical requirements necessitate an extension to the Contracts until 31 December 2026. Given that there is no other possible competitor that could provide an equivalent service to Airwave within the required timescales, trying to organise an accelerated competition would incur additional expenses/resources that would not make any difference to the outcome. *The Contracts are between: 1. Secretary of State for the Home Department and Airwave Solutions Ltd in respect of police access to Airwave - Contract value for the four year extension period: £1,333,700,339 2. Secretary of State for the Home Department and Airwave Solutions Ltd in respect of Fire and Rescue Services access to Airwave - Contract value for the four year extension period: £141,181,120 3. Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and Airwave Solutions Ltd for the Ambulance Radio Programme - Contract value for the four year extension period: £83,947,192 4. The Scottish Ambulance Service Board and Airwave Solutions Ltd in respect of Scottish Ambulance Service access to Airwave - Contract value for the four year extension period: £ 3,091,038 Airwave is CNI and, as such, it must remain in place to ensure continuity and security of emergency service communications until ESN is ready to replace it. Until ESN is brought into service, no alternative or substitute network to Airwave exists nor would it be technically or financially feasible to develop a replacement for the emergency services to use in the meantime. Without Airwave, the emergency services would have no suitable communications network to use. This poses a danger to life for individuals as well as a risk to public safety and/or public security if communications between fire, policy or ambulance personnel broke down or became unreliable. Nb: Continued in additional information section due to character restrictions.

Other Information

** PREVIEW NOTICE, please check Find a Tender for full details. ** Additional Information 1: Continuation of Section Annex D1 - 3. Explanation: The Home Office has considered the length of the extension required to ensure that it does not exceed what is necessary and is proportionate in the circumstances. It considers that the extension until 31 December 2026 is a realistic estimate of the time that will be needed to ensure that the ESN is properly tested and validated before it becomes fully operational. The Home Office will keep this situation under review so that it can adjust the time period, as it considers appropriate, in the event that the development and transition process proves better than expected or, conversely, requires additional time. Additional Information 2: Original OJEC REF 96/S 15-6735/EN