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Fire services digitisation of systems case study

Blog
The YPO Team
06 May 2025

The brief

Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (the Authority) reached out to YPO as they aimed to incorporate digital infrastructure and systems into the workforce to enhance their performance and better provide communities with sustainable, high-quality firefighting, rescue and preventive services.

The challenge

In order to continue working towards this core aim, the Authority must keep pace and stay up to date with modern, user-oriented digital models of operation to address the rapid changes in their workforce’s expectations. They would like to utilise an ICT service that is aligned with their overarching strategies (CRMP, MTFP, Prevention, Protection and Response) and will allow them to incorporate digital technologies and advancements into their daily lives.

The process

Their recent goals involve the introduction and delivery of an ICT plan which has been developed since 2021 and will continue on till 2025. This will come with the introduction of a new Community Risk Management Plan to carry on the journey of improvement linked to digital and system transformation. The plan will enable:

• End User Experience - develop a user-centric environment that directly supports the needs of our workforce, promotes and supports the wider use of digital platforms in all areas.

• Data Drive Intelligence - Empower staff at all levels to make better decisions with quality data that improves performance and reduces risk.

• Connectivity - Ensure that our users can safely access their data and apps, no matter what device they are using or where they are located.

The plan will set out how the digital infrastructure and systems will support the Authorities’ core aim of providing our communities with sustainable, high-quality firefighting, rescue and preventative services. It will help maximise the added value of digital solutions, innovative use of information technology and effective sharing and utilisation of data in ways that will drive efficiency and overall effectiveness.

The Authority have recently entered into contract to deliver a new ICCS (Integrated Communications Control System) and Computer Aided Dispatch system (CAD). The ICCS system is CRS provided by Motorola and the CAD system that the mobile data solution will need to integrate with is Guardian Command (a 3tc product). The current estimated go-live for the new system is June 2025.

The Authority also wishes to update the software on the mobile data terminals in each fire appliance and replace its existing incident command software in order to take advantage of the additional functionality that the new CAD system can offer, providing a fully integrated and end-to-end system. The existing contract for the supply of incident command software was due to expire 31/3/24.

The solution

YPO has offered a Competition process, and 3tc Software Ltd has been awarded the contract due to being the Most Advantageous Tender (MAT) for the supply of Mobile Data Terminal software and Incident Command Software in financial year 2024 – 2025.

The contract was awarded via a further competition run by YPO under YPO’s Critical Incident Management and Public Safety Software and Systems DPS – 1218 Lot 1 Framework Agreement:

• Core Software Requirement (Ref:1-7)

Subject to Further Agreement:

• Costed Options (Ref 8 Mobile Data – Officer Use and 9 Mobile Pager Software)

The result

An open market tender was considered as an alternative, but the YPO framework offered access to the known suppliers for this type of software. An open market procedure would have also taken longer to procure and may have necessitated a renewal of the existing Incident Command software contract in the interim.

The Emergency Control room has responsibility for receiving calls from the public and other emergency or public organisations, mobilising resources, and supporting incident management for Herefordshire & Worcestershire and Shropshire. As a result of this solution, our Fire Control Service successfully dealt with 16,000 calls and attended over 7,400 incidents including property in the year 2021 – 2022.

Experience with YPO

Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said:

‘YPO always goes above and beyond in assisting with support/advice and guidance.

I appreciate YPO in taking the initiative in helping us to meet our tight timescales and find a solution in meeting our requirements; your proactive approach is always helpful.’

Author

The YPO Team

YPO supplies products and services to a wide range of customers including schools, local authorities, charities, emergency services, public sector and other businesses such as nurseries and care homes. YPO are 100% publicly owned, by 13 local authorities, which means the profits made are returned to public sector customers, delivering even better value for money.