Provision for Website Replacement

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) needs to deliver important information to keep its communities safe, as well as engage with different people about the work that it does. RBFRS's website (rbfrs.co.uk) is a key channel for engaging with the public.

In 2024, the website was visited by 370,000 people, with a total of 604,000 page views. Due to the end of its current contract, RBFRS is seeking a supplier to host its external website.

Due to the timescales associated with the contract, all existing pages and content from the current website will need to be migrated to the new platform. The deadline for implementation of the website is 1ST November 2025.

Our objectives are as follows: Create a website that provides communities and wider stakeholders with a wide range of information relating to RBFRS's activities, community safety, careers, governance and events. Provide a user friendly and intuitive system for our teams to use when uploading and editing content on the website.

Provide a provision for the hosting of Fire Authority documents on the website. Improve data sharing on the website, with the ability to integrate to other systems, such as PowerBi to display key data for public transparency.

Provide accessibility from a range of devices, meeting accessibility standards (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines - WCAG) with testing completed to ensure compliance ahead of the changeover. Provide a resilient capability by partnering with a supplier who can host the new website and provide industry experts to help evolve the application moving forward, therefore providing a future proof solution.

Provide data storage, with streamlined and improved archiving and destruction processes, supporting compliance with GDPR and ease of access to information for reporting. Provide the functionality to produce online newsletters, so that RBFRS can produce targeted email communication materials.

The procurement process was conducted through a Request for Quotation (RFQ) method, following a quality and price evaluation criterion. In line with procurement procedures, three (3) eligible suppliers were identified and selected to participate. An RFQ pack, containing all relevant specifications and instructions, was sent to the three suppliers via the In-tend portal.