The contracts have an estimated combined value of up to £4.35bn over a minimum of five years and a maximum of 10 years.
Gill Hodson, senior NGEC project manager, said: “This is an important milestone in the NGEC programme with our foremost regional prime contract – for Scotland and Northern Ireland – having paved the way for procurement of the remaining three regional contracts.
“We look forward to widening our procurement work across these three regions for England and Wales, and hope the contracts will generate a healthy response from supply chain businesses and prime contractors alike.”
Regional Prime Central will replace two separate regional prime contracts – RPC Central and RPC East – currently in service. The other two contracts will replace arrangements over comparable geographical areas.
Three regional contracts
Each FM contract will range between £500m and £1.8bn, depending on potential contract extensions.
Regional Prime Central (North of England, Wales, the Midlands and East Anglia) – 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
Regional Prime South West (Southwest England) – RMA Sandhurst, DMRC Headley Court, HQ Land Forces Andover, Hyde Park Barracks, Woolwich Barracks, Horse Guards, RAF High Wycombe and RAF Northolt
Regional Prime South East (Southeast England) – various Royal Marines bases, RNAS Yeovilton, RNAS Culdrose, Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) headquarters
Successful bidders will provide maintenance and repairs as well as a 24/7 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.
The new contracts are expected to be awarded in early 2014.
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.”
Under the NGEC programme, all prime contractors will be required to operate project bank accounts, ensuring prompt payment to all suppliers and subcontractors.
Contract notices will be advertised within the next few days on the Official Journal of the European, the Government Contracts Finder, and the Defence Contracts Online facility.
The closing date for expressions of interest is 23 March 2012.
Following expressions of interest DIO will issue PQQs and host an industry day at a venue and date to be confirmed.
