In 2020, the Home Office entered into a Grant Funding Agreement with the National Fire Chiefs Council for the purpose of enabling and facilitating the delivery of key national targets across the Fire Sector via an agreed Delivery Plan.

These include the establishment of a national savings target for all areas of spend, enhanced collaboration within the Bluelight Sector and commercial improvement.

In response to the above targets, the National Fire Commercial Transformation Programme and the National Fire Estates Group established a National Strategic Task and Finish Group for Facilities Management and Construction.

This Task and Finish Group, currently comprising twenty-one (21) Fire and Rescue Services, has been established for the purpose of delivering the following strategic outcomes: • Deliver a National Category Strategy for FM & Construction; • Deliver cashable savings across the FM & Construction Category; • Deliver benefits in line with the Government's Net Zero Strategy and Social Value Agenda; • Promote and increase collaboration across Fire and the wider Bluelight Sector (including but not limited to the delivery of joint procurements, standardisation of documents, joint strategic supplier management); • Achieve commercial reform; and • Support, shape and develop the wider market Over the coming months and for the purpose of informing national strategies, formulating informed category plans and allowing suppliers appropriate time to support and participate in future collaborative opportunities, the Task and Finish Group will be undertaking more targeted consultation with the market in the following high priority areas: • Waste Management; • Cleaning and Janitorial; and • Buildings and Construction The Buildings and Construction Market Engagement process shall commence on 3rd May 2022 and is due to be completed on 4th July 2022.

The target completion date may be subject to an extension depending on the course of the discussions and the level of market interest.

Market providers who are interested in participating in the engagement process can express an interest by sending an email to the FM & Construction National Category Lead using the email address below, and stating their full name, contact details (email and telephone number), full company name and their position in the organisation.

Further updates on the process will be issued to interested parties in due course: fmconstruction.tfg@nationalfirechiefs.org.uk The publication of this Early Engagement Notice document in no way commits the Task and Finish Group or any of its Members to commence any subsequent procurement exercise to award any contract.

On behalf of the National Category Sponsor, the National Fire Chiefs Council and the Home Office, we are looking forward to working with you in delivering positive results and maximising value for the UK Fire Sector and our wider public sector colleagues.