News story

DIO hosts industry event for national construction framework

Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has held an industry day to support procurement of its National Capital Works Framework arrangement for construction, under its Next Generation Estate Contracts (NGEC) programme.

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The event marked the fourth in a series of NGEC industry days. It was staged at Imjin Barracks, Innsworth, in Gloucestershire, and attended by delegates from more than 80 companies, including a number of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) with an interest in subcontracting opportunities.

From 2013 the National Capital Works Framework will be used to deliver higher value construction projects, more complex projects and cross-region programmes up to a value of £50 million across the UK Defence estate.

A pool of up to five pre-approved suppliers will be awarded Framework places and then asked to submit competitive bids on a project-by-project basis. These arrangements will run for four years, with options to extend for up to a further three years. It is estimated that the total value of capital works delivered under this framework will be between £250 million and £400 million over the four year period.

Speakers at the event included: Brigadier John Wootton, Director of Land Forces Infrastructure; Gill Hodson, the NGEC senior projects manager; and Jon Wooden, the NGEC frameworks projects manager.

The event provided delegates with an overview of the MOD, current military operations, DIO activities, the NGEC programme, and the scope and procurement process for the National Capital Works Framework. It also enabled supply chain companies, including SMEs, to meet potential main contractors to discuss supply chain opportunities in a dedicated networking session.

Jon Wooden, the NGEC frameworks project manager, said:

We will need to work closely with industry to deliver the infrastructure our military personnel need to do their job.

The Strategic Defence and Security Review is driving changes to military basing, and the Capital Works Frameworks are likely to be instrumental in this. It was encouraging to see a healthy industry turnout, with businesses of all sizes networking on future commercial opportunities.

Brigadier John Wootton, the Director of Land Forces Infrastructure, said:

A modernised fit-for-purpose Defence estate and supporting services are fundamental to the training and preparation of our Armed Forces for operations and for success once deployed. Future MOD contractors and suppliers will play a key part in this, and it is important that all those in the commercial supply chain understand the underpinning importance of their role.

A list of organisations which submitted expressions of interest in the framework is (with their individual permission) now available via the online NGEC Potential Bidders Directory on the MOD website.

Published 8 September 2011