UK defence contract for Balfour Beatty

UK-based contractor Balfour Beatty has been appointed to the National Capital Works Framework for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) to design and build up to £400 million (€472 million) worth of large-scale Ministry of Defence construction projects across the UK.

The contractor has signed Partnering Charters with the DIO along with four other contractors, for potential work over an initial four-year period, with the option to extend for up to three years. Each individual project will be valued up to £50 million (€60 million).

The National Capital Works Framework will operate alongside six regional frameworks and can be used at any defence site across the UK.

The framework will introduce the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) to Ministry of Defence construction projects. Balfour Beatty is a leading practitioner in this area. The contractor operates a dedicated BIM ‘Centre of Excellence’ and holds technology partnerships with Autodesk and Bentley.

Andrew Manley, DIO chief executive, said, “For the Armed Forces to live, work and train effectively on the military estate, the DIO is putting in place an agile new suite of contracts under Next Generation Estate Contracts. The Capital Works Frameworks provide for ever improving value for money, competitive tension and the ability to meet the demand of future requirements across the UK defence estate.”

Bob Clark, Balfour Beatty executive director, said, “It is a tremendous privilege to be appointed to the DIO’s National Capital Works Framework. We are committed to continuous improvement and have a proud track record of delivering major defence projects including the £280 million (€330 million) USAF housing framework for visiting US forces and the £160 million (€190 million) flagship programme delivering the Royal Navy’s Training Estate Programme.”

Balfour Beatty is currently a contractor on nearly a dozen major frameworks across the UK.

The appointment to the DIO Framework follows Balfour Beatty’s recent JV contract with Kier to build the new £121 million (€142 million) Defence College of Technical Training at the former RAF Lyneham airbase.