The Ministry of Defence is also planning a series of estate procurement industry events around the UK. As part of DE’s Next Generation Estate Contracts (NGEC) programme, the MoD will hold an industry day for each prime contract and each national and regional Capital Works Framework, following the expressions of interest stage.
The one-day events will be held on an invitation-only basis, principally for companies which have submitted expressions of interest as potential prime contractors or framework main contractors.
Companies which have requested places at specific industry days as potential subcontractors or supply chain members during the EOI period, and military customer representatives, will also be invited to attend.
Industry days will be followed by a “bidders’ conference” for each contract after the pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ) stage, exclusively for those companies short-listed to tender bids.
The online NGEC Potential Bidder Directory gives details of potential bidders – subject to their agreement – for each contract, to facilitate supply chain networking between potential subcontractors, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and potential main/prime contractors. Details of the potential bidders for each contract will be added to the directory as the corresponding industry day is held.
Steve Rice, head of the NGEC programme, said: “During this period of significant change across Government, sound engagement and communication with industry are essential to the procurement process.
“I am determined that through these industry days we should be setting out our requirements clearly and openly, to ensure that potential bidders get the best possible chance to demonstrate their merits.
“We also want to support small and medium-sized enterprises in identifying and researching supply chain opportunities, and the online NGEC Potential Bidder Directory is one way in which we hope to achieve this.”
The first industry day is to be staged at Redford Barracks in Edinburgh later this month, for companies that have expressed an interest in the Regional Prime Scotland & Northern Ireland contract to provide facilities management services.
John Brennan, project manager for the Regional Prime Scotland & Northern Ireland, said: “The Defence estate in Scotland and Northern Ireland offers a unique and challenging opportunity for innovative and dynamic contractors and supply chain companies. It is encouraging to see strong market interest in the maintenance and development of facilities for the Defence frontline.”
From 1 April DE becomes part of a new single organisation called the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, bringing together all those working on estate and infrastructure activity from across the MoD.
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