RESTRICTED
PROVISION OF SECURE EXHIBIT TRANSPORTATION
SERVICES
SS3/10/119
Outline of requirement and minimum standards
The Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) as the contracting authority is tendering
for the Provision of Transportation of Firearms for the Metropolitan Police Service
(MPS). The MPA/MPS is seeking through this tendering process to set up a
service framework with a suitably capable Contractor to provide this service for a
term of 24 months.
The Metropolitan Police Forensic Firearms Unit (MPSFFU) is presently located at
Amelia Street London SE17 3PY. The facility is responsible for examining all
firearms recovered from the 32 London Boroughs and acts as the clearinghouse
for all firearms and ammunition recovered by the Specialist Directorates within
the Metropolitan Police Service.
There is a requirement for the provision of a collection service which will ensure
that each of the 32 London Boroughs and the City of London Police receives a
weekly rostered collection, whereby all firearms and ammunition recovered by
the Specialist Crime Units for that Borough or the City Police are collected and
brought to the MPSFFU clearinghouse by hand. The items deposited require to
be taken on a daily basis (Mon - Fri) to the Forensic Science Service located at
109 Lambeth Road, London SE1 7LP. There is also a requirement to transport
inert ballistic material to the National Ballistics Intelligence Service in
Birmingham, but this requirement is rare and does not require secure specialist
transport. Occasionally items which have undergone examination are returned to
the originating Borough on the next scheduled collection date or taken to the
main property storage facility in Mandela Way.
Current Service
Each London Borough and the City of London Police receives one collection per
week (Monday - Friday) except on Public Holidays. Collections which were due
to be undertaken on a Public Holiday are undertaken at the earliest possible
opportunity on the following working day.
To ensure that effective use is made of the service, scheduled collections do
NOT take place unless the Borough concerned has informed the Clearinghouse
at least 24 hours prior to their scheduled collection date that items require
collection. The company undertaking the service are then tasked by the
Clearinghouse in respect of the daily requirements via the companies control
room; this is done on the day of the collection.
This system negates unnecessary journeys being undertaken and ensures that
any potential security implications can be identified and a risk assessment
undertaken and where necessary additional security measures put in place. It
also permits flexibility in that unscheduled collections can be accommodated as
and when required if there is limited rostered tasking for the day.
Whilst the London Boroughs have a scheduled collection the key to the
successful operation of the Examination facility/clearinghouse is the flexibility of
the transportation service. At present an agreed monthly mileage limit of 1000
miles is in place to meet the requirements. This has to date proved sufficient.
Any mileage incurred above the agreed monthly mileage limit is chargeable to
the Police Service at the contracted rate agreed at the time of undertaking the
contract.
Summary of Minimum Requirement
Service
 To ensure continuity of the present collection Service, where the Supplier
is to be tasked on a daily basis (Monday - Friday excluding public
holidays) to undertake the collection of firearms and ammunition (and
where necessary returns) from a designated point within each of the 32
London Boroughs and City Police Force. Please note the collection
schedule to remain the same. (See Appendix 1 for the location of
collection points).
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To be able, on a daily basis, to transport firearms and ammunition from
the Clearinghouse in Amelia Street to the Forensic Science Service in
Lambeth and where necessary collect items from them.
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To be able as and when required to transport firearms and ammunition to
the main storage facility located in Mandela Way. Unit 2 Mandela Way
London SE1 5SS
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On rare occasions be able, with notice, to transport inert ballistic material
from Amelia Street London to NaBIS in Birmingham.
Security
 Due to security implications vehicles used for providing this service should
have no sign writing to indicate that it is undertaking logistical operations
on behalf of the Metropolitan Police Service, a plain coloured van will be
preferable as it lowers the opportunity of transport routines being noted.
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Vehicle to be double crewed (two crew) at all times whilst engaged in the
transportation of weapons and or ammunition.
Crew to be security vetted and proof of that vetting made available.
Vehicle to be equipped with high security locks.
Vehicle to have a separate and secure load bay from the crew.
Vehicle to have separate lockable internal security compartments to
permit firearms including long arms and ammunition to be kept separate.
Vehicle to be equipped with a monitored GPS tracking system.
Vehicle to be equipped with a crew operated immobiliser.
Crew to have access to mobile communications at all times.
The crew will only be expected to transport weapons which have been ‘proved’
(made safe) and clearly endorsed to that effect. Live weapons or weapons which
cannot be shown to have been proved will NOT be transported.
Legal and Evidential issues
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Company to be licensed by the Home Office to permit the transportation of
Firearms and ammunition on behalf of the Metropolitan Police. (Section 5
Firearms Act Authority obtainable from Home Office, Firearms Section, 5th
Floor SE, Fry Building, 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF (020 703
51779)
Company to have a proven system to demonstrate evidential continuity of
items collected and where necessary to be able to produce an evidential
statement in a format acceptable to the courts.
Other considerations
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Travel to and from the majority of London Boroughs will entail entering the
London Congestion Zone which is presently chargeable at the rate of £8
per day.
Vehicles, if diesel powered, must comply with the Low Emission Zone
guidelines.
The ability to review costings and mileage limits at six monthly intervals
and where possible any savings made passed on the customer.
Company supplying service to have in place contingency plans for vehicle
breakdown, crew absence.
Any additional hours worked by crew or additional expenditure which are
unplanned and unauthorized by the Metropolitan Police Service (i.e.
Traffic conditions or vehicle breakdown) will not be chargeable to the
Metropolitan Police Service.
The MPSFFU is constantly evolving and may within the period of this
contract move to another location within Greater London.
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In the event of not being able to return to the MPSFFU at Amelia Street to
deposit weapons and ammunition collected that day for any reason
(mechanical breakdown etc) the supplying company must have in place
arrangements to enable the safe storage and security of the vehicle
overnight. Vehicles returning to Amelia Street after 5.00pm will not be
permitted to park and left unattended in the car park overnight for security
reasons. On approval MPSFFU staff can be directed to remain after
5.00pm at short notice but staff overtime costs in such cases will be
chargeable against the company supplying the service.
The preference is to award the framework to the prime contractor who presents
the best value for money.
The MPS will accept an alternative proposal and cost in part or whole where the
requirement stated will be met with no significant impact to the service.