Mowlem jv preferred bidder on £3.9bn MoD contract

A preferred bidder has finally been announced for the £3.9bn Ministry of Defence (MoD) Project Allenby and Project Connaught PFI.

Aspire Defence, the jv between Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR) and Mowlem, was selected today (Wednesday) to beat the Abraxis Group, a jv between Amey and Bovis Lend Lease.

An announcement was originally due to be made in June, but was delayed because the MoD claimed it "needed more time to evaluate bids".

The contract is to upgrade and provide a range of services to the British Army's garrisons at Aldershot and around Salisbury Plain. In addition to a £3bn package of services to be delivered over 30-years, the contract includes a £1bn construction programme which will improve soldiers' single living accommodation, leisure and recreational facilities, technical and administrative accommodation.

Aspire will adopt and manage the existing Army estate and will be responsible for design, refurbishment, construction, financing and integration of the £1bn new and modernised facilities.

Aspire will also deliver a range of essential support services from catering and cleaning, to transport and reprographics.