MoD launches £4bn contracts
A lucrative regional contract covering the North of England, Wales and the Midlands has been made available by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
The 'prime' facilities management contract covers sites including Catterick Garrison, Beacon Barracks Stafford, RAF Shawbury and RAF Valley training bases, DST Leconfield, Wattisham Airfield, RAF College Cranwell, and the intelligence and security centre at Chicksands.
Two other contracts are also available covering the South West and South East.
Developed under the 'Next Generation Estate Contracts' (NGEC) programme, the contracts are set to last from five years to ten years and are worth up to £4.35bn in total.
Individual contract values are to range between £500m and £1.8bn depending on potential contract extensions, the MoD's Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) revealed.
The successful bidders are set to provide maintenance and repairs to the MoD estate. Other services will include a 24-hour helpdesk for estate users, a regional energy management bureau, grounds maintenance, and snow and ice clearance.
Each contract also includes options for land management services and construction projects valued below £3.93m.
Steve Rice, the NGEC programme director, said: "Supporting our Armed Forces as they prepare for operations is the top priority for DIO, and the stewardship of first-class facilities is central to fulfilling that aim.
"In each of these regions we are determined to find the right industry partner to manage these facilities to the standards expected by our military customers. Successful bidders need to be armed with innovative ideas and a willingness to respond flexibly to the evolving needs of the defence frontline."
The closing date for expressions of interest is 23 March 2012.
