Securing Major Construction Contracts that will change the future of the Defence Estate

Defence Estates Optimization Portfolio (DEOP) Delivery Partner | Tier One Construction Contractor

Securing Major Construction Contracts that will change the future of the Defence Estate

Background

As part of its Defence Estates Optimization Programme (DEOP), MOD sought Delivery Partners for 5 Regional and 6 Major Projects packages of accommodation and technical infrastructure, totaling £3.65Bn. Our Client considered achieving a significant role in DEOP as fundamental to its defence business.

Challenges

Given the scale and scope of this opportunity, there was extremely strong competition for the 11 packages from other established defence suppliers. Preceding the related DEO Technical Service Provider and Professional & Construction Management Services procurements, the DEOP competition revealed understandable challenges in MOD’s intended Alliancing model involving multiple industry parties. Limited detail on the widely varied constituent projects was compounded by constrained and complicated response evidence requirements and a tight submission timescale.

How WaND provided support and outcome

Prior to procurement launch, WaND assisted our Client’s team in developing its response strategy, addressing both the underlying Defence drivers and the often-ambiguous indications of emerging MOD thinking and expectation. On tender launch, WaND’s detailed analysis enabled swift, robust response design that stood the test against changing tender submission requirements. In particular, design of the ‘common evidence submission’ enabled our Client to identify, collate and refine case study, resourcing and tender commitment detail to best effect as response requirements repeatedly changed. This ensured that our Clients solution could be refined in an agile manner. We were delighted that Our Client secured the maximum permitted 2 packages in the form of a Major Project and a Region.

More Case Studies

UKRI / British Antarctic Survey

Our Client, a global expeditionary logistics and maritime services supplier, was keen to secure this specialised scientific support contract outwith its recognised core naval, military, humanitarian and aviation business. Valuable in itself, the contract would further serve to demonstrate our Client’s versatility and capability in meeting very specialised support requirements for a world-renowned end user.

DVLA Planned & Reactive Engineering Services

The Driver Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA) was nearing the end of a 20-year PFI contract to manage and maintain its estate and infrastructure. This estate consists of 12 buildings across three DVLA sites and provides workspace for the 6,000+ DVLA staff who administer 52 million driver records and collect £7bn vehicle excise duty annually. The PFI was being replaced with a 5 Year+ Hard FM Contract commencing in April 2025. Our client, a major FM entity, had long targeted the DVLA and engaged WaND to assist them in navigating the tender and provide perspective on the impact of a post PFI environment.

Metropolitan Police Hard FM & Engineering Services Procurement

The Metropolitan Police initiated a procurement competition seeking a single industry partner to provide hard FM and engineering services. The Met had decided to transform its relationship with industry, moving from a North and South model to a single partnering arrangement to maintain its complex, critical and diverse estate. This estate, covering 160 sites, includes non-standard assets ranging from aviation, stables, port and training facilities to micro assets such as 36,000 lockers. Our Client, a major UK FM entity, had targeted the contract as a new business opportunity and tasked WaND with supporting them in securing it.

Securing Major Construction Contracts that will change the future of the Defence Estate

Developing London’s Heritage – The New London Museum

The Museum of London are creating a new £340M museum in dilapidated market buildings in Smithfield by 2026. The new museum, once complete, will comprise over 26,000 square metres. The ambition is to create a museum that is truly London, that is appealing and meaningful for the diverse population of London and for visitors from across the UK and the world.

Central to the realisation of this ambition was the need to appoint a high calibre Construction Manager who would bring not only their technical expertise and experience but also a passion to share in the creation of what will be a new landmark cultural attraction for London. SRM were immensely passionate about securing this contract and they appointed WaND to help them succeed.

A key long term Relationship Retention – Transport Infrastructure and Services

Mitie has partnered with the Department for Transport for over a decade providing Integrated Facilities Management services. This partnership ranges from Hard services such as engineering and works projects to Soft services which include catering, cleaning, security and waste management. As a central strategic contract, it was vital that Mitie responded strongly to the tender exercise conducted through the Crown Commercial Service to maximise chances of retention.

Our Partners

We have a number of informal strategic partnering arrangements with other sector specialists and often work alongside them when supporting a client as our services are complementary. These include Cargyll, Akerlof, Electi, SecureConstruct and HLM Architects.