Term Service Contract for the Fire Safety Compliance Services for Council Managed Assets

Portsmouth City Council ('the Council'), is seeking to appoint a contractor to deliver Fire Compliance Services across its housing stock, with an estimated annual value of between £800k and £1M. The contract will be let for an initial 5-year term, with the option to extend by up to a further 5 years in intervals to be agreed. The scope of services will include statutory servicing inspections, responsive repairs, and planned maintenance works, ensuring compliance with all relevant regulations and maintaining the safety and functionality of the Council's fire installations. This is new procurement taking existing functions from other existing contracts so to focus on fire safety compliance. Housing Stock Information The Council has a housing stock of approximately 17,500 properties of which approximately 15,500 are socially rented and then there are approximately 2000 leasehold properties. Within the stock there is a mix of housing types including houses and bungalows; however, the majority of the dwellings are within purpose-built blocks of flats constructed in the 1950s and 1960s. Traditionally the estate has been spread across the two geographical areas of Portsea Island and Paulsgrove (on-island, PO1 to PO5), and Havant (off-island, PO6 to PO9). A recent acquisition of approximately 800 properties has however subsequently increased the 'off-island' area to sites in Gosport, Fareham and Winchester. Corporate Assets In addition to the residential housing stock the 'on island' repairs and maintenance contractor also manages repairs for a number of the Council's corporate asset. This is a function managed by the 'on island' contractor only. The on-island contractor is responsible for approximately 550 assets across both geographical areas, however these are predominantly within the PO1-PO5 postcode. • The Council's broader property portfolio encompasses a range of building types which include but are not limited to: • Schools • Offices • Commercial buildings, warehouses and depots • Care homes • Sheltered housing and supported living properties • Maritime port facilities Current & Future Demand Annual fire door surveys is a new contractual requirement, and it is expected that approximately 2500 will need to be inspected each year. Within the first few years of the contract the number of services and repairs are anticipated to remain fairly consistent with 2024. The Council is currently working on a number of development options, and it is anticipated that within the next 5-10 years there is potential for up to 1000 additional dwellings to be created that will require some level of maintenance and consequently will need to be absorbed into any new contract. Changing Context and Objectives Over the next 5-10 years the Council is expecting to experience a number of challenges with regards to the maintenance of its housing and general fund properties with any incumbent provider to work in partnership with the Council to ease pressures where they can. Significant changes in legislation such as the Building Safety Act and Fire Safety Act will require greater scrutiny from suppliers to ensure they are working in a compliant way and may require them to adopt new skills such as undertaking works as a result of Building Safety Cases for buildings of 11m+. There will be more focus on the accuracy and timely manner of up-load of compliance information and ensuring repairs to blocks of 11m+ are well managed and resolved to avoid enforcement action by the Fire Authority, with compliance also being monitored by the Social Housing Regulator. Scope and specification of requirements The core scope of works, which the successful supplier will be required to deliver are - • Fire and Intruder Alarm testing and repair • Sprinkler testing and repair • AOV and Smoke Vent testing and repair • Fire door surveys • Lightening Conductor testing and repair • Fire Damper testing and repair • Fire Extinguishers inspection and replacement • Dry Riser …