The Defence Infrastructure Organization (DIO) Friday revealed the four bidders for a potential $1.5 billion new national contract to manage the United Kingdom training property.
The companies are: Babcock Support Services Ltd., Kellogg Brown & Root Ltd and Balfour Beatty Workplace Ltd., Landmarc Support Services Ltd., and Serco Ltd, BAE Systems Surface Ships Ltd and Kier Regional Ltd.
The contract is being developed and procured under the DIO’s Next Generation Estate Contracts (NGEC) program.
The National Training Estate Prime contract will provide services ranging from managing air weapons ranges to providing laundry services or clearing snow and ice.
Key sites will include Salisbury Plain, Catterick, Dartmoor, Sennybridge and Otterburn. The Ministry of Defence also has created an option for elements of the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Associations estate to be included in the contract scope.
Col. Christopher Sloane, Commander Defence Training Estate, said: “Military training is vital to the success of operations, which is why we need to provide excellent training facilities that enable our troops to learn and develop the skills that are essential if they are to meet their operational commitments at the highest professional standard. A sound partnership with industry will be the key to supporting the training requirements of Defence.”
Steve Rice, Head of the NGEC program, said: “This contract covers a significant expanse of the Defence Estate, including a wide variety of built assets, types of terrain and service outputs, requiring a first-rate prime contractor that is ready to deliver innovation and value for money…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.”
Representatives from the four bidding organizations now will now be escorted on visits to familiarize them with the training properties and activities before and during the “competitive dialogue” process that will commence by mid-2012.