1 February 2012
The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has shortlisted four bidders to run its training estate in a deal worth just under £1 billion.
The shortlisted companies are: Babcock Support Services; Kellogg Brown & Root in partnership with Balfour Beatty Workplace; Landmarc Support Services; and a partnership of Serco, BAE Systems Surface Ships and Kier Regional.
The National Training Estate Prime contract is worth up to £950 million,
covers around 200,000 hectares and is being procured under the DIO’s Next
Generation Estate Contracts (NGEC) programme.
A statement from the DIO said it now wants to see a range of specialist suppliers, including small- to medium-size companies, start talking to the four shortlisted providers to ensure a well-organised supply chain.
Steve Rice, head of the NGEC programme, said the prime contract covers a significant expanse of the defence’s overall estate, including a wide variety of built assets, types of terrain and service outputs.
“I would now urge smaller businesses to consider where and how they might contribute within supply chains, and to start liaising directly with the bidders,” said Rice.
Key sites will include Salisbury Plain Training Area, Catterick Training Area, Dartmoor, Sennybridge and Otterburn. There is also and option for elements of the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association estate to be included in the contract.
Services range from managing air-weapons ranges to providing laundry services.
“A sound partnership with industry will be the key to supporting the training requirements of Defence,” said Colonel Christopher Sloane, Commander Defence Training Estate. “Industry will play a major role in running and maintaining the training estate, so it is vital that we identify the best possible private sector partner for this significant commercial arrangement.”
Representatives from the four bidding organisations will be taken on familiarisation visits to training sites to observe activities, including live firing exercises.
A competitive dialogue process to decide on a final provider will start in mid 2013, according to the Defence statement.
The statement also listed the supply chain activities that businesses might like to consider:
• Range and training area operations – provision of range warden duties, boundary signage, safety radar and surveillance equipment, advice and guidance on use of targets and targetry, provision of target designators and scoring technologies, provision of range communications facilities, provision of portable toilets and disposal of military debris and explosive ordnance
• Rural estate management – services to the tenanted and hired estate, including rent collection, facility hirings, safeguarding activities such as responding to statutory consultations on town and country planning matters, and snow and ice clearance to maintain access to ranges
• Built estate management – allocation of accommodation, planned maintenance including cleaning, caretaking, waste disposal and recycling, electrical distribution systems;
• Forestry and conservation – long-term management plans for forestry, conservation and forestry harvesting, scrub clearance, pest and vermin control
• Catering – provision of a full meals service (food and ingredients are supplied under a separate MOD contract) in training camp dining rooms and canteens, as well as packed and container meals to troops deployed in training areas
• National helpdesk – setting up and operating a 24-hour service covering maintenance and repairs and range bookings, including development and installation of networked hardware systems
• Landscaping – maintenance of soft and hard landscaping on ranges (for example, grass height to enable target visibility), dry stone walling and of existing landscaped areas and fencing in built areas
• Heritage – development and implementation of long-term maintenance plans for Defence sites and assets of cultural and historical significance and provision of archaeological services.
Contact details for the shortlisted bidders are available online at the Ministry of Defence.
The DIO was formed in April last year when the former Defence Estates organisation merged with other property and infrastructure functions within the defence department.
Other news for Wednesday, 1 February 2012
DIO lists four in £1bn training estate deal
FM World launches 2012 Salary Survey
Blue Light nabs £129m police PFI
FM 100 Poll: budget revisions commonplace
Integral takes on HVAC at Yorkshire Water
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