NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) has issued a prior information notice for NP856 Fire and Security Services and Equipment, signalling an upcoming national framework agreement covering the supply, installation, maintenance and support of fire and security systems across NHS Scotland.
For specialist contractors and integrators, this is the stage where early preparation pays off. The notice is explicitly for market engagement and is not yet a call for competition, but it sets out the likely scope, confirms that lots will be shaped by supplier feedback, and includes a clear route for engaging with NSS through an RFI process.
What is being procured
NSS is procuring on behalf of all NHS Scotland Health Boards, Special Boards and associated organisations, covering a wide range of estate environments including acute hospitals, community facilities, laboratories and office buildings.
The scope is expected to include both fire safety systems and security systems, together with associated works:
Fire safety systems and equipment
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Fire detection and alarm systems
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Fire extinguishers, including supply and servicing
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Fire suppression systems
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Fire safety signage
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Installation, planned preventative maintenance and reactive works
Security systems and equipment
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CCTV systems
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Access control systems
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Intruder alarm systems
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Perimeter detection and remote monitoring
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Installation, planned preventative maintenance and reactive works
This is a broad, operationally critical category. The buyer will be looking for suppliers who can demonstrate consistent delivery across multiple sites, strong compliance controls, and a service model that reduces risk across safety, security and business continuity.
Key commercial facts and dates
The Find a Tender notice indicates an estimated total value of £32,000,000 excluding VAT. The framework will be divided into lots, but the lot structure is not yet defined and may be split by system type and or geographic region, with the final approach informed by market engagement.
The notice also provides an estimated date of publication of the contract notice of 1 June 2026.
For engagement, NSS confirms an RFI is available and invites interested organisations to complete and return it. Responses are requested by 1 April 2026, submitted to the National Procurement mailbox listed in the notice. Suppliers can also register interest via Public Contracts Scotland, with the notice referencing a specific PCS listing for further information.
What NSS wants from the market
The engagement is designed to gather views on:
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the proposed scope and how it should be structured
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the most sensible lotting approach
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market capacity across Scotland
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innovation in delivery and technology
If you plan to bid, this is your chance to influence practical decisions that can affect delivery for years, such as regional coverage expectations, response times, spares strategy, monitoring requirements, and how NSS balances standardisation with site specific variation.
What suppliers should prepare now
A joined up service model that works across estates
Because this will support a mix of hospitals, labs, community buildings and offices, you will score better later if you can show how your delivery model scales. That includes helpdesk processes, triage and prioritisation, engineer coverage, and how you manage access and permits on clinical sites.
Evidence for compliance and assurance
Fire and security buyers will expect robust evidence. Start pulling together documentation that demonstrates competence, testing and certification processes, planned maintenance regimes, reporting, and audit readiness. Be clear on how you manage subcontractors and maintain accountability for outcomes.
Consistency of products and support
Where you provide equipment and installation, buyers will want confidence in product continuity, lifecycle planning, and availability of spares. Prepare a clear approach to substitutions, obsolescence management and upgrades that do not disrupt critical sites.
Innovation that solves operational problems
NSS has called out innovation as an engagement topic. Practical innovation here usually means better monitoring, smarter maintenance scheduling, improved reporting, and measurable reduction in false alarms or downtime, not novelty for its own sake.
How Thornton and Lowe can support
If you are targeting this framework, Thornton and Lowe can help you turn technical capability into a clear, evaluator friendly submission.
Our security tenders bid writing support can help you shape and evidence your approach for CCTV, access control, intruder systems and monitoring services.
If your offer blends fire and security within a wider estates model, our facilities management tenders support can help you present a coherent operating model with strong compliance controls.
