Access Control System

Royal Berkshire Fire Authority (RBFA), also referred to as the Authority, is seeking proposals from the market to put in place a solution that: • Provides security that enables the Authority to maintain its relevant security levels , including PSN, Cyber Security and Annex C • Supports the relevant security standards as required by other emergency services • Provides a single Employee ID solution that can also be used as part of our Customer ID .

This tender is being opened up to the market to understand the compliant security options available RBFA provides fire and rescue services for residents and businesses across Berkshire.

The service has to be fully operational 24/7, 365 days a year.

The Authority employs approximately 650 staff.

Approximately 380 staff are frontline serving officers.

The RBFA headquarters, which includes the Emergency Control section, is located at Newsham Court, Calcot, Reading, RG31 7SD.

In addition there are eighteen fire stations, some with additional offices, located across the county.

The Authority has recently issued a tender for the maintenance of its existing installation, the Paxton Net 2 Access Control Pro (currently V4.28), which was installed in 2011/12, with various subsequent additions/changes.

Access is facilitated by the use of a fob which can be used at all sites depending on the access rights given to each member of staff.

During the tender process a review of the Authority’s policy of identification for staff was undertaken.

The result of that review was that means of identification and access should be combined so that staff are issued with one card that can be used as their identification (in the case of serving officers their warrant card) and as a means of access negating the need for staff to carry a fob as well.

At the same time a review of the security requirements at the Authority’s headquarters at Newsham Court was undertaken, specifically to assess whether the current access arrangement at the site was optimal.

As the recommendations of these reviews were produced and agreed after tender responses had been received and reviewed it was determined that the Authority should retender the requirement based on the new requirements.