Update from Air Commodore Wendy Rothery, Head of Accommodation DIO on the FDIS Accommodation Project Invitation to Tender Release.
I am pleased to confirm that we have reached another important milestone in the transition to the Future Defence Infrastructure Services (FDIS) Accommodation contracts. The Invitation to Tender (ITT) was issued on 5 May 20 to the suppliers selected to be on the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) Framework.
The FDIS Accommodation Project will replace the contractual arrangements for the National Housing Prime (NHP) contract, to fulfil the Defence requirement for the provision of Service Family Accommodation (SFA) for Service personnel.
There will be 5 new Accommodation contracts; one National Accommodation Management Services (NAMS) contract, and 4 Regional Accommodation Maintenance Services (RAMS) contracts:
•NAMS will provide a common user experience and deliver customer, occupancy and void management services.
•RAMS will ensure statutory and mandatory compliance of the SFA estate and undertake reactive and planned maintenance and void preparation services.
Continued Improvements through the existing NHP Contract
The FDIS Accommodation Project Contract award is expected in the Spring of 2021. Before then we have a programme of works in place to deliver the best quality Service accommodation for our Armed Forces and their families. We committed £123M in FY 19/20 in support of 185 major improvement and modernisation projects, including energy efficiency measures such as external wall insulation and improved heating systems, new kitchens and bathrooms, and replacement doors and windows. A further £108M will be invested this FY to deliver similar improvements.
In addition, 1,000 new-build SFA are being provided through a £1.8bn Army Basing Programme around Salisbury Plain whilst a further 112 properties have been purchased in areas of high demand to increase domestic stability and reduce the need for substitute accommodation.
Benefits of the new FDIS Accommodation contracts
DIO is committed to building on the improvements to service accommodation over recent years for our Armed Forces and their families, supported by more agile and responsive service delivery, and enhanced customer service. In developing the new FDIS contracts, we have collaborated closely with key accommodation stakeholders to ensure that we capture Service families’ needs and provide an improved ‘lived experience’. We have asked industry to deliver the following improvements, but we will not be in a position to confirm the detail of these new contracts until after bids have been received and evaluated.
