Fuels Contract for Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) require a compliant and cost-effective solution for liquid fuel procurement following the expiry of its previous contract. Fuels are critical for frontline operations, and the current spot-purchasing approach does not meet contract procedure rules or deliver best value. CFRS is committed to reducing its environmental impact and has identified Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) as a practical interim solution to significantly reduce fleet emissions while maintaining operational capability. A successful trial demonstrated substantial environmental benefits, including up to 90% reduction in CO2 emissions and lower pollutant levels, without requiring infrastructure changes.

To secure supply, CFRS proposes using the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) Fuels Framework RM6305, which offers road diesel, HVO, and AdBlue under one contract. Due to market volatility, a 12-month contract is recommended, with the option to revert to standard diesel if HVO prices escalate. The preferred route to market is participation in the CCS quarterly mini-competition process, which ensures compliance, competitive pricing, and resilience through multiple suppliers. This approach also supports sustainability objectives and is expected to deliver savings of 3-5% compared to ad-hoc procurement, while reducing administrative burden and providing budget certainty.

The current national fuels framework runs until September 2028, and the deadline for joining the next quarterly aggregation is 5 December 2025.