The Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board (MFB) employs approximately 2,400 employees, working in more than 50 locations across Victoria. Of this number, approximately 2,000 are on-shift firefighters maintaining a 24 hour rapid emergency response service to the community. Operational firefighters are employed on a full time basis, and operate on a shift system known as “four on, four off” (consisting of two days Day Shift, followed by two nights of Night Shift, and then four days off). They deliver a 24 hour rapid emergency response to the community, including:

Suppression of all types of fires;

* Urban Search and Rescue;
* High Angle Rescue;
* Road Accident Rescue;
* Emergency Medical Response (EMR) First Responder;
* Emergencies on waters in Port Phillip Bay and the metropolitan river system;
* Industrial accidents and hazardous material handling and storage incidents; and
* Assisting other combat agencies in emergencies.

The 24 hour emergency service is dispatched from 47 Fire Stations. These Fire Stations are grouped in five Districts, each with a management office.

Additionally, there are more than 400 Corporate, Technical and Workshop employees (inc. Contractors/Agency). There are also approximately 500 members of the Retired Firefighters Association. All these employees are eligible for the MFB’s EAP, CIRS and Associated Services described within this Request for Tender.

The MFB has been providing an Emergency Medical Response (EMR) First Responder service since 2001. This service sees operational firefighters co-respond with Ambulance Victoria to Triple Zero calls where a person has been identified as non-conscious and non-breathing. To provide this service, MFB firefighters are trained in CPR and defibrillation, and the MFB now responds to an average of 6,500 – 7,500 EMR call outs per year. In approximately 50% of EMR call outs, the MFB arrive first on scene, and provide potentially lifesaving services until paramedics arrive.

The EAP, CIRS and Associated Services is expected to provide three distinct service arms, which include the following:

Counselling - The provision of telephone and face-to-face counselling services, which include telephone crisis counselling for individuals;

CIRS - The provision of a Critical Incident Response Service, to high level critical events that require additional support above and beyond the scope of the MFB’s internal Critical Incident Response Service;

Manager and Leader Support - The provision of professional support services to Managers and Leaders, which may encompass telephone counselling and/or face to face counselling as required.

The successful vendor will be required to provide all the above services, and it is preferable that the services are offered in house. However, the use of sub-contractors in areas where the vendor does not have the capability is acceptable.

The provider shall ensure that the activities to which service providers (including sub-contractors) are allocated during the period of the contract are in accordance with the contract and that service providers are properly supervised and managed.

A Tender Briefing will be held on Wednesday 27th September 2017 between 12:00pm and 2:00pm at ICC Lecture Theatre, MFB Burnley Complex, 450 Burnley Street, Richmond, 3121. It is recommended all prospective vendors attend this session. On the day please sign in at reception and you will be escorted to the lecture theatre.