Fire service signs near-£30m contract with US firm for system “fit for modern Scotland”

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has signed a £29.5m contract with US-based firm Motorola Solutions to deliver “whole new level” of capability for firefighters.

Under the seven-year contract, Motorola will provide a single, cloud-based solution to mobilise firefighters to emergencies following a 999 call, replacing the “ageing systems” currently in place at the operational control rooms in Johnstone, Edinburgh and Dundee, SFRS said.

It is understood the new system will allow staff to deal with day-to-day incidents effectively and efficiently, delivering a “flexible and resilient” service and “future-proofing” its command-and-control capability, SFRS deputy chief officer Andy Watt said.

Last year the service attended around 80,000 incidents, each requiring one or more 999 calls, and while statistics published last week showed house fires in Scotland have hit a record low, the number of non-fire incidents such as flooding and road traffic collisions was, at 16,000, the second highest on record.

Watt added: “Operations Control rooms by their very nature and existence are fundamental elements in the delivery of SFRS core services and are a key component in ensuring we keep the communities of Scotland safe.

"A settled future platform is essential in enabling us to do that. This cutting-edge technology will further enhance our capability by delivering a whole new level of day-to-day flexibility and resilience, providing SFRS with a single, stable and interoperable system across our three Operations Control rooms."

The new contract forms part of an ongoing strategic review of the service, which last month celebrated its 200th anniversary in Edinburgh.

Siobhian Brown, minister for community safety, said: “I appreciate the work of the dedicated and professional Scottish Fire and Rescue Service control room staff who are on the frontline when people are in need of an emergency response. 

“Once successfully implemented, this new technology will support SFRS to meet the challenges of changing demands on the service and enhance their capability and resilience as they continue to keep our communities safe.”

The contract will last until 2031, with the option of a three-year extension.

Fergus Mayne, manager for the UK and Ireland at Motorola Solutions, said: “We are proud to support the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service teams that operate in complex and fast-moving environments where every second counts.

“Our advanced control room technology helps to synthesise vital information and simplify workflows, allowing emergency services to quickly and efficiently respond to 999 calls from their communities.”