The Fire Safety (FS2) Framework LHC

[edit] Winners named for £150m UK public sector fire safety framework

More than 70 fire safety experts have been appointed to a new £150 million UK-wide public sector fire safety framework.

The Fire Safety (FS2) Framework from LHC Procurement Group (LHC) will see 72 winning companies deliver fire protection, suppression and safety related services for housing associations, local authorities and the wider public sector.

Its timely launch will support organisations in meeting their legal responsibilities for fire safety under the Building Safety Act 2022 and Associated Legislation 2023. This includes requirements from the Building Safety Regulator, introduced 1 October 2023, relating to wider building safety standards and fire safety measures for building control approval for higher risk buildings (HRBs).

Building on LHC’s former FS1 framework, FS2 now provides both passive and active services to help with the prevention, detection, fire alert, and suppression measures. It offers the expertise necessary to meet requirements under the recently introduced Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 and Fire Safety Act 2021.

[edit] Comment

Clive Feeney, group managing director of LHC – 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 in October 2023 and the new building control regime now in place, plus recent updates to fire safety regulations.

“In developing FS2 we worked with a range of public sector organisations to tailor it directly to their needs. Clients told us more availability of regional suppliers, especially SMEs, was a high priority – and FS2 offers just that with 76% of appointed companies small and micro companies.

“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 the framework will include wider support for community initiatives and more regional employment opportunities, while delivering a pipeline of work into the local economy for years to come.”

[edit] Four main areas

FS2’s eight workstreams have been categorised in four main areas:

• consultancy and risk management
• fire safety installations
• fire safety servicing
• 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, including Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA), Consortium Procurement Construction (CPC), Welsh Procurement Alliance (WPA), South-West Procurement Alliance (SWPA) and LHC London and South East England (LSE).

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

[edit] About LHC Procurement Group (LHC)

LHC Procurement Group (LHC) is a not-for-profit construction framework provider delivering exclusively to the public sector. Its frameworks are available to all publicly funded contracting authorities to procure works, goods and services to construct, refurbish and maintain social housing, schools and public buildings.

From 1 April 2023, the organisation moved from a Joint Committee structure to a Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG), and changed its name to LHC Procurement Group to support its growth for the future.

As a contracting authority, LHC develops and operates frameworks across England, Scotland and Wales through its five business units:

• London and South East (LSE) - across the capital and Home Counties of Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Essex
• Consortium Procurement Construction (CPC) – covering the Midlands, Suffolk, Norfolk and North of England
• South West Procurement Alliance (SWPA) - covering the South West of England
• Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA)
• Welsh Procurement Alliance (WPA)
• LHC invests framework surpluses into its Community Benefit Fund. Working with delivery partners nationwide, the Fund delivers projects to improve communities, buildings and homes.

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

This article was issued via Press Release 'Winners named for £150m UK public sector fire safety framework' dated April 17, 2024.

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