Skanska wins £75m MoD contract

Skanska has emerged triumphant from a protracted campaign to secure a £75m Ministry of Defence (MoD) prime contract.The contractor is preferred bidder for the revamped Woodbridge barracks deal in Suffolk after seeing off competition from Costain and Amec.The MoD put the scheme on ice early last year after all three bidders priced the scheme at well over its initial £38m price-tag. But the client revived the deal late last year, revising it and beefing up the budget.The Woodbridge scheme includes accommodation, sports and medical facilities and an officers' mess for 16 Air Assault Brigade - a rapid reaction task force.Skanska Rashleigh Weatherfoil will carry out mechanical and electrical tasks and will be responsible for facilities maintenance when the barracks become operational.The award of the contract is expected by the end of this year, with construction starting soon afterwards. Completion is set for mid-2006.