Citex has been awarded the Prime Contract by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for the redevelopment of its Andover North Site in Hampshire. This is the second Prime Contract placed, Faslane in Scotland being the first.

The 140,000 sq m (34 acre) Andover North Site is to be redeveloped to house the 26,000 sq m of new accommodation at a cost of approximately £41m for the design, construction and maintenance works. The demolition of the existing buildings has already commenced and new construction work is expected to begin on site this April 2001.

Under the contract, Citex will be responsible for providing services such as design, construction works and subsequent maintenance of the facilities until March 2009. The project comprises offices, a Warrant Officers and Sergeants Mess, technical and sports facilities, a day nursery, gatehouse and associated infrastructure and external works.

Tony Brown, Citex’s project director, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded this contract, having been involved in the tendering process for 18 months. The scheme is not only one of the very first MoD Prime Contracts to have been let in the UK but is also, we believe, the most exciting of the current tranche of stand-alone Prime Contracts. We believe that our success to date reflects our total commitment to the Prime Contracting process and the drive to smarter procurement.”

Steve Lee, a Citex director, continued: “We see this as the forerunner for a number of major schemes with both the public and private sector as the twin drivers of outsourcing and supply chain management take shape in this country.”

Citex will also be responsible for building and managing the supply chain. Key members of the Citex supply chain include CH Pearce, Thomas Vale, Southern Electric Contracting, Percy Thomas, Hoare Lea & Partners, Torpy & Partners, Thorburn Colquhoun and Hyder.

Richard Byatt