THE Metropolitan Police Service is to contract out the equipping, maintenance and repair of its non-covert fleet of around 3,500 vehicles. The deal, one of the largest fleet management tenders to be announced this year, covers cars, motorcycles, vans and larger commercial vehicles operating mostly within the M25.

Other areas of fleet management will remain in-house, as will the entire operation of the force's covert fleet, and the force will continue to own all its vehicles. It has put together five contract packages - four covering maintenance and repair of vehicles in particular areas of London and one covering the equipping of vehicles with sirens, lights, radio and livery throughout the city. Each of the maintenance and repair packages covers 600 to 1,200 vehicles. Companies can bid for all five packages and, if successful, take on the entire fleet.

The decision to outsource follows an internal efficiency review carried out last year. Interested businesses can write to the Support Services Review Team, Room 1406, New Scotland Yard, Broadway, London SW1H 0BG, fax 0171 230 0740.