The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has launched early market engagement on a major facilities management contract to support British Forces South Atlantic Islands (BFSAI), covering MOD sites across the Falkland Islands and Ascension Island. The contract is valued at £500m (£600m including VAT) and will run for ten years from April 2030 to March 2037, with a possible extension to 2040.
The scope covers both Hard FM, the maintenance of buildings, infrastructure, and engineering systems, and Soft FM, including catering, cleaning, and day-to-day base support services. Together, these underpin the operational capability of one of the UK’s most strategically significant permanent overseas garrisons, centred on RAF Mount Pleasant in the Falklands and Wideawake Airfield on Ascension Island.
The DIO has explicitly flagged the contract as suitable for SMEs, and is actively inviting firms with experience of delivering FM in remote or complex environments to come forward. This is not a standard urban estate contract. Delivering services thousands of miles from the UK mainland, across small islands with limited local infrastructure and long supply chains, demands a specific kind of operational resilience that experienced defence FM businesses are well placed to offer.
The procurement is being run under the defence and security special regime, with Crown Commercial Service supporting the process. An initial supplier engagement meeting is planned for early September, with expressions of interest via a short survey due by the end of December.
For supply chain businesses, the timeline matters. The contract does not commence until April 2030, but early engagement now will shape the structure of the eventual procurement and give proactive firms a head start on understanding the requirement, building the right teaming arrangements, and demonstrating relevant experience to the DIO.
The Prior Information Notice (Notice ID: UK2 Notice – South Atlantic Islands FM) is available on the UK Find a Tender Service.
Image credit: William Barton / Shutterstock.com
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Post written by: Vicky Maggiani
Vicky has worked in media for over 25 years and has a wealth of experience in editing and creating copy for a variety of sectors.
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