PAN1087 - Supply and Maintenance of a Battery Operated Evacuation Chair

Leicester City Council requires a powered evacuation device capable of evacuating persons up-stairs – Meeting Rooms 1 and 2 upwards (x 6 steps) and basement to ground floor upstairs (x 17 steps) in both wide and narrow conditions. The narrowest way is approximately 1 metre in width. The chair shall therefore need to be able to meet both these conditions.
The following criteria must be met:
(a) The chair should be capable of downward travel with a person on the device and must be manoeuvrable for turning on landings.
(b) The evacuation chair should have minimal manual handling requirements, with any balance point of the device being attained and maintained with minimal physical strength.
(c) The evacuation chair should be battery operated but charged from a standard 240v single phase power supply.
(d) The evacuation chair must be capable of continuous operation for a minimum of 30 minutes on a full charge.
(e) The device must be capable of being left unattended in a charging state when not in use.
(f) The device will have a charge warning indicator.
(g) Any optional equipment such as rack, handles, or harnesses should be included in any overall costs but itemised.
(h) The chair should be capable of transporting persons individually but also have the capability to transport a mobility device (wheelchair) with the individual sitting on it. Should there be optional extras to enable this dual use then these costs should be itemised. If the evacuation chair is restricted to a specific wheelchair design/make or brand, then this must be stated though the authority is looking for a universal fit to accommodate all wheelchair makes.
(i) The chair should have a carrying capacity of not less than 25 stone (160kg) in body weight. The chair should also be able to carry the additional weight of an wheelchair used in evacuation.
(j) Storage must be freestanding or capable of affixing to a stud partition wall.
(k) The chair should minimise any aggravation to existing conditions to person with the physical complaint.
(l) You shall explain the transfer arrangements for the person into/onto the device.
(m) A device must be available for site demonstration and evaluation prior to awarding of any contract.
(n) Integrated safety chip to prevent unauthorised use.
(o) Adjustable climbing speed.

All submissions must be returned via Due North before 12:00hrs (noon) on 30th November 2015 at the very latest.

Should you not be able to meet the deadlines imposed, you will need to respond within the timetable that you would be able to work to with a completion fixed date that the Council will consider if your product meets the specification.