26 Mar 2003

An Interserve joint venture, Landmarc Support Services Limited, has signed a £600 million public-private partnership (PPP) contract to provide facilities management and range operations for the Ministry of Defence's (MoD) Army Training Estate (ATE). The contract is for an initial period of 10 years with the option of extension for a further five. The joint venture was named preferred bidder for the contract in December 2002.

The ATE facilitates the training of the armed forces at 130 sites in England, Scotland and Wales. Interservefm Ltd and DynCorp International LLC have combined forces in this joint venture, with Interserve bringing in its expertise as a major provider of facilities management services to the MoD.  DynCorp, meanwhile, has 50 years' of experience in providing range support services and operations across Europe and in the U.S.

Landmarc Support Services will deliver:

• Land and property management
• Maintenance and development of training areas
• Range operations support
• Professional support (conservation, energy efficiency, archaeology and planning advice)
• Operation of a bookings service
• Administration support
• Provision and maintenance of accommodation with support services (such as laundry, dry cleaning, waste management, water services and energy management – lighting, gas and electricity
• Catering

Approximately 2,000 people will be employed on the contract. The MoD is committed to improving efficiency and views this Strategic Partnering Project as a means of delivering both the highest quality of service support and the best value for money.

Defence Minister Dr Lewis Moonie commented, "This contract will provide the Army Training Estate with better support services such as catering, accommodation, IT systems, range and estate management. Representing best value for money, it will allow us to continue to provide suitable training for our armed forces."

Sam Maroli, Managing Director of Interservefm, said, "This is one of the largest public-private partnerships the MoD has ever undertaken and Interserve is delighted to be playing a part in it. We have a long and successful history of working with the MoD and are looking forward to extending our relationship in this ground breaking partnering contract."