Scope
Reference
CPA/SPU/2740F
Description
To maintain resilience in mobilising fire crews and appliances from station end equipment, it is essential to upgrade the existing PSTN modems to 4G routers. This upgrade is required due to BT's announcement that analogue PSTN lines will begin decommissioning from December 2025. While this timeline may be extended by a few years, the risk to operational reliability remains significant.
Supplier - Telent Technology Services Limited
Contract Value -£176,515.46 plus VAT
Contract 1. Station End PSTN Upgrade
Supplier
Contract value
- £211,818 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Earliest date the contract will be signed
16 February 2026
Contract dates (estimated)
- 17 February 2026 to 16 August 2026
- 6 months
Main procurement category
Goods
CPV classifications
- 48800000 - Information systems and servers
Contract locations
- UKD6 - Cheshire
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Direct award
Direct award justification
Additional or repeat goods, services or works - extension or partial replacement
Required to be compatible with an existing asset.
A successful proof of concept was previously conducted using Cheshire's CradlePoint routers connected to Police HQ. However, NWFC has since worked with Telent & IT Services to develop a more resilient solution, hosting central routers directly at NWFC.
This configuration offers improved resilience and complete segregation from the CFRS network, ensuring continued operation even if a station loses network connectivity or the link between Police HQ and NWFC fails. Telent, who currently supports both the Multitone CCPs and NWFC infrastructure, is uniquely positioned to implement the necessary changes at both ends of the connection. No other supplier can fulfil this requirement due to the integrated nature of the systems. An alternative approach was considered, where Telent would handle configuration under the existing support contract and CFRS would procure routers separately via InSight. However, CradlePoint confirmed that licensing constraints prevent Telent from managing routers not purchased through them.
Supplier
TELENT TECHNOLOGY SERVICES LIMITED
- Companies House: 00703317
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PYGC-6427-QMNZ
Abel Smith House, Gunnels Wood Road
Stevenage, Hertfordshire
SG1 2ST
United Kingdom
Email: centraldigitalplatform@telent.com
Website: http://www.telent.com
Region: UKH23 - Hertfordshire
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1. Station End PSTN Upgrade
Contracting authority
Cheshire Fire Authority
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PXBC-3252-DZQJ
HQ/Training Centre, Sadler Road
Winsford, Cheshire
CW7 2FQ
United Kingdom
Region: UKD63 - Cheshire West and Chester
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government