Because the FSCA contract is a national framework agreement, member FRSs may commission any of ORS' services without tender, on the basis that they have been assessed as best for both quality and price competitiveness during rigorous OJEU procurement exercises in 2004 and 2009. For many FRSs, a key advantage of the FSCA national contract is that they may procure ORS services without needing to tender, but while still having the security of controlled pricing and overall best value.
Key Benefits of FSCA National Framework Contract
  • Assured quality standards
  • Assured price controls
  • No need to tender (member FRSs authorised to appoint ORS under framework contract)
  • Number of Services 'included' as part of annual subscription
  • Low-cost standard surveys
  • Comparative benchmarking reports
  • Standard survey templates – available for FRSs to customise
  • Unlimited free advice without obligation from an expert provider with detailed understanding of the Fire and Rescue Service
  • Expertise in qualitative and quantitative research over the whole range of applied social studies, including education, emergency services, equality and diversity, health, housing, leisure, local government and transport
  • Specialist conferences and good practice sharing

Introduction

Phil Webb

My name is Philip Webb and I have served in the Fire and Rescue Service for almost 38 years. During that time I have seen many changes, many of which are bringing great benefit to our communities and our staff. Never were these improvements more apparent than in the field of consultation. We have moved from the erstwhile 'silent service', to one that enjoys unprecedented public confidence and support. We are a Service that is now heard and recognised in a range of forums as an organisation that can make our communities safer and really make a difference.

As a result of unprecedented consultation activity over the last year (as we prepared our Integrated Risk Management Plan), the people we serve have had a greater say in the decisions we made and in doing so have learnt more and more about the Service(s) we provide.

As Comprehensive Area Assessment moves to centre stage to replace comprehensive performance assessment, one can see the Governments message that the communities must have an even greater say on our priorities for the next few years. I don't know about you - but that suggests to me that there is a need to increase our engagement with our stakeholders both in and out of the Service to ensure their aspirations for their communities are met and exceeded.

The new contract with our consultation provider, Opinion Research Services (ORS), commenced on the 1st April 2009 and your Management Group were heartened by the overwhelming majority of Fire and Rescue services who joined the Fire Services Consultation Association (FSCA) and supported the procurement process.

Brigades that signed up to the FSCA can now choose to participate in the Framework Contract or not as they deem sensible to their needs. ORS have written to Chief Officers to enter into a contract for the provision of consultation services – a decision that I as Chair of the FSCA and my colleagues on the FSCA management group endorse and recommend they take up.

The prime role of the FSCA management group is to represent its (FSCA) members. Should you, or any of your colleagues, wish to discuss any matters relating to consultation, my colleagues and I are will be only too happy to assist.