Public procurement notice: Contract Award Notice
Published: 2020-12-18
Buyer: Cheshire Fire Authority
Country: UK
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Contract award without prior publication
CPV classification: 72261000: Software support services
Estimated value: 300000 GBP
Award criteria: The most economic tender

Technical requirements: Cheshire Fire Authority have a three (3) year contract agreement with Airbus Defence and Space Ltd for software licences, support and maintenance of ‘VMDS, VMDS Comms, Gateway, GPS, AIUS, CMS, Officer Radios and Crash Recovery System’.
Airbus Defence and Space Ltd has granted Cheshire Fire Authority a licence to continue to use the software for a further three (3) years. Under the licence terms only Airbus Defence and Space Ltd has access to the software source codes to provide the required ongoing support and maintenance. It is therefore the intention to award a contract to Airbus Defence and Space Ltd under a VEAT notice, in accordance with section 32 b) ii of the Procurement Contract Regulations 2015.
Cheshire Fire Authority have a three (3) year contract agreement with Airbus Defence and Space Ltd for software licences, support and maintenance of ‘VMDS, VMDS Comms, Gateway, GPS, AIUS, CMS, Officer Radios and Crash Recovery System’.
This software operates on the Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs) in the Fire Appliances and is used to send mobilisation messages to the Fire crews providing risk critical information about premises and incidents they are attending. Without this software, crews’ ability to carry out their job would be severely impacted.
Airbus Defence and Space Ltd has granted Cheshire Fire Authority a licence to continue to use the software for a further three (3) years. Under the licence terms only Airbus Defence and Space Ltd has access to the software source codes to provide the required ongoing support and maintenance. It is therefore the intention to award a contract to Airbus Defence and Space Ltd under a VEAT notice, in accordance with section 32 b) ii of the Procurement Contract Regulations 2015.
Cheshire Fire Authority have a three (3) year contract agreement with Airbus Defence and Space Ltd for software licences, support and maintenance of ‘VMDS, VMDS Comms, Gateway, GPS, AIUS, CMS, Officer Radios and Crash Recovery System’ contract reference number CPA/SPU/994F.
This software operates on the Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs) in the Fire Appliances and is used to send mobilisation messages to the Fire crews providing risk critical information about premises and incidents they are attending. Without this software, crews’ ability to carry out their job would be severely impacted.
The MDTs were manufactured by Infoterra Ltd who also provided the ‘VMDS, VMDS Comms, Gateway, GPS, AIUS, CMS, Officer Radios and Crash Recovery System’ software under their trading name of Astrium. They provided the software licences and initial support and maintenance of the system. Astrium was part of EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space) and Airbus Defence and Space Ltd was formed during the corporate restructuring of EADS. Airbus Defence and Space Ltd now own the IPR for this software and issue the annual licence for use of the system to Cheshire Fire Authority, which includes support and maintenance.
Airbus Defence and Space Ltd has granted Cheshire Fire Authority a licence to continue to use the software for a further three (3) years. Under the licence terms only Airbus Defence and Space Ltd has access to the software source codes to provide the required ongoing support and maintenance. It is therefore the intention to award a contract to Airbus Defence and Space Ltd under a VEAT notice, in accordance with section 32 b) ii of the Procurement Contract Regulations 2015.
Software Licences, Support and Maintenance of ‘VMDS, VMDS Comms, Gateway, GPS, AIUS, CMS, Officer Radios and Crash Recovery System


Winner: Airbus Defence and Space Ltd
Award value: 300000
Number of bids: 1