Preferred bidder named for £600m Army Training Estate contract

A preferred bidder has been selected for the £600m facilities management contract for the Army Training Estate (ATE), which provides the land and facilities used by the army for its military training.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has named Interservefm's jv with DynCorp International, Landmarc Support Services, as preferred bidder. This Strategic Partnering Project involves the management of all non-military support services at 120 locations throughout the UK for up to 15 years.

Interserve and DynCorp are equal partners in the jv, each bringing its own expertise; Interserve in managing, maintaining and developing the estate, and DynCorp in range operations and associated technology.

Adrian Ringrose, managing director of Interservefm and soon to be deputy chief executive of Interserve, said: "The bid process has been extremely thorough and the announcement is testimony to the proven skills of both Interserve and DynCorp in our respective fields. Interserve is already working closely with the MoD in many support areas and we're looking forward to building on those relationships."

The contract is expected to be finalised in the first quarter of 2003 with operations commencing in the second quarter.