§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Dr. Lewis Moonie)The contract for the first phase of the £1 billion Single Living Acommodation Modernisation (SLAM) programme was awarded today.
The contract is being awarded to Debut services, a Birmingham based consortium led by Bovis Lend Lease and Babcock Support Services, who will work in close co-operation with Defence Estates (an Agency of MOD) and Service Client representatives to achieve the delivery of the project.
The contract comprises new build and refurbishment projects across the country and will deliver primarily single room en-suite accommodation. This will meet the aspirations of our single servicemen and women for improved living conditions that meet modern standards and is the result of extensive consultation of service personnel. This is particularly relevant, as one of the main reasons for personnel leaving the Services is the current poor quality of living accommodation.
The Project is planned to upgrade progressively the worst accommodation to Grade 1 physical condition over a five-year period. This will involve in the region of 16,000 bedspaces and ancillary accommodation across all ranks of single servicemen and women in the three services.
The contract is being awarded on "Smart Procurement" principles and contains an innovative incentivised condition to encourage the Prime Contractor to work more efficiently.