In what is thought to be the first deal of its kind, London Fire Brigade is to outsource its 999 control and mobilising service.
The 10-year contract, to be awarded to Capita, will see the supply a new 999 control system run on behalf of the fire service, and is expected to save over £5million over the lifetime of the contract.
Capita already has experience of working with police, fire and ambulance services to provide emergency service mobilising systems. However, London Fire Brigade will become the first fire service in the country to outsource its emergency call handling. As part of the contract, existing staff, including 999 control officers and back office staff, will be transferred to work for Capita.
Chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, councillor Brian Coleman, said:
“This is a win-win situation for Londoners. Outsourcing the Brigade’s 999 control centre will mean people in the capital benefit from a new, high-tech system that will mobilise our firefighters to incidents even more quickly and this will be done at less cost. Capita has an outstanding record of working with other emergency services and will continue to provide Londoners with a first class 999 service.
“The capital has one of the best fire and rescue services in the world and now we will have the mobilising system to match. At a time when the public sector is having to look carefully at what it spends, this contract will represent excellent value for money for taxpayers across the capital.”
London Fire Brigade has also announced a private finance initiative (PFI) with Blue3 to rebuild nine of its ageing fire stations. Eight of the stations are being completely re-built on their existing sites and one station, Mitcham, will be built on a new site.
Construction work is expected to begin in June 2013 once detailed plans have been approved.
