THE Metropolitan Police Service is to conduct a pre-tender process involving private sector suppliers interested in providing outsourced vehicle maintenance to the force's vehicle fleet. All companies interested in tendering for the new contracts are invited to a conference at the end of March where it will outline the opportunities available and set out its performance criteria.

Among the services to be contracted out are the servicing and maintenance of the Met's 4,000-vehicle fleet - including patrol cars, vans and motorcycles, the equipping of new vehicles with lights, sirens, communications systems and any other modifications, the staff driver service and internal dispatch service. Maintenance of covert vehicles will remain in-house as will the force's team of dedicated drivers for senior officers.

In-house teams will monitor service standards, set performance criteria and retain some operational duties in certain sectors. Interested parties should contact Katharine Lee at the MPS Support Services Review Team for further information on 0171 230 0733.