Fire Engineer Framework
Framework Description
The Fire Engineer Framework from the National Framework Partnership (NFP) is a single-lot consultancy framework for appointing pre-approved fire engineers. It started on 20 May 2024 and expires on 19 May 2028. Public sector clients can direct-select a firm or hold a mini-competition among the appointees. As applications are closed and it is not a Dynamic Purchasing System, it does not admit new suppliers during its four-year term.
Context & Use Case
Public sector clients call on it for fire safety strategy and design input on new buildings, for fire risk assessments, and for specialist advice when refurbishing or upgrading existing stock. It is often used where a client needs a qualified fire engineer quickly to support compliance with fire safety legislation, without running a separate procurement for each commission.
Scope of Services
Fire safety strategy and design advice Fire risk assessments Compliance support with fire safety legislation Specialist advice on existing buildings and refurbishments
Lots
Single lot
Who Can Apply
Aimed at chartered fire engineering practices and consultancies with public sector experience and the relevant accreditations. Firms that are not appointed cannot join before the re-tender, likely around May 2028. Appointed firms compete for commissions through direct selection and mini-competition.
Buyer Benefits
Fire safety work is high-stakes and often time-sensitive, so buyers value having pre-checked fire engineers they can appoint without a fresh tender. Direct selection gets an engineer on site quickly for urgent assessments; a mini-competition gives a documented, competitive appointment for larger strategy or refurbishment commissions.
Next Steps
Appointed practices should respond quickly to mini-competitions and make their refurbishment and risk assessment credentials easy for clients to see. Practices outside the framework should use the NFP framework page to follow the replacement procurement due before 19 May 2028, and prepare evidence of accreditations, insurances and public sector fire engineering projects ahead of it.
How Athena Can Help
For appointed fire engineers, Athena can sharpen your mini-competition responses: our bid managers write method statements to the scoring criteria, run a Bid Health Check on your draft and test your fee against likely rivals.
If you want a place on the next iteration, our frameworks registration team will plan the 2028 application, prepare policies, certificates and case studies, and compliance-check the submission. Our public sector tendering advice also helps you judge which other fire safety tenders are worth pursuing.
