The National Ambulance Resilience Unit (hosted by West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust) is responsible for co-coordinating and delivering a national specification for ballistic PPE to enable joint procurement by ambulance trusts and fire and rescue authorities.

A framework agreement for body armour, in accordance with HOSDB body armour standards: HG2, KR1 and RF1 (subject to further expansion in the specification).

The Body armour and PPE to be designed and manufactured specifically for use in the maintenance of law and order.

The National Ambulance Resilience Unit (hosted by West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust) is seeking through this tender process to set up a national supply framework and (West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust as the contracting authority) to directly award the requirements of the Ambulance Trust and fire and rescue authorities to the bidder(s) that scores the highest in accordance with the evaluation criteria that will be detailed in the invitation to tender.

Other purchasing authorities will undertake a mini-competition with the successful operators.

The timeframes and requirements have been dictated to the National Ambulance Resilience Unit (hosted by West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust) by HM Government therefore West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust will conduct an accelerated restricted OJEU tender process, because of national security this is an urgent requirement.