About DSS
Defence Suppliers Service
The role of the Defence Suppliers Service
The Defence Suppliers Service (DSS), which is part of the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) Supplier Relations Team, is the MOD focal point for the provision of advice and guidance to companies interested in becoming defence suppliers. Its staff can explain how to become a UK defence supplier and some of the processes and procedures that the MOD uses to buy a wide variety of goods and services. The DSS advises companies of all sizes, from both the UK and overseas, and the vast majority of the 2000 or so enquiries it receives each year are from SMEs. These companies are able to provide a wide and diverse range of goods and services (for example, general engineering and hardware capabilities, consultancy and IT services, medical equipment and supplies, electrical items, furniture, clothing and training services, to name but a few).
How the DSS is able to help companies of all sizes, including SMEs
The DSS acts purely in an advisory capacity by:
- operating a Defence Suppliers Help Desk facility
- providing an overview of how MOD acquisition is undertaken and the various procedures that are used
- providing information packs about becoming a defence supplier, which include the Selling to the MOD brochure, copies of MOD DCB and copies of the MOD's Low Value Purchase Office Lists
- providing appropriate points of contact for the various MOD acquisition staff who may have an interest in the goods or services that a company is able to provide, so that the company can contact the buyer directly to discuss any possible future business opportunities
- acting as the UK's European focal point to provide advice and a point of contact for European companies interested in becoming UK defence suppliers
Events attended by the DSS
DSS staff work closely with Trade Associations, local Chambers of Commerce, Business Links, Regional Development Agencies and the Defence Export Services Organisation (DESO) and attend various exhibitions, seminars and 'Meet the Buyer' events across the UK and occasionally overseas, where they are able to meet company representatives, most of whom are from SMEs, and provide advice and assistance to those wishing to become UK defence suppliers. DSS staff will also deliver 'Selling to the MOD' presentations to industry delegates at these events, where appropriate. Since 1997 DSS staff have attended over 180 such events and delivered over 120 Selling to the MOD presentations.
Enquiries
Further information about the DSS and how to become a defence supplier can be obtained by contacting:
Defence Suppliers Service
Supplier Relations Team
Oak West
Level 2, #6225
MOD Abbey Wood North
BRISTOL
BS34 8QJ
Tel: 030 679 32844 (for UK companies)
Tel: (0044) 117 91 32844 (for overseas companies)
Fax: 0117 913 1911
Email: DESSRT-DSSHelpDesk@mod.uk
About DE
Defence Estates
The role of Defence Estates
Defence Estates (DE) is the MOD's in-house estates management body, providing professional advice across the Department on all aspects of works services, land services and disposals. DE also acts as the MOD's interface with the construction industry to place contracts across the Department.
DE has the following objectives:
- The management of the defence estate as a corporate whole.
- To ensure the estate is managed and developed in a sustainable manner, in line with acknowledged best practice and government policy.
- To develop new methods of procurement that provide for an improved intelligent interface in line with government policy between the MOD and its chosen suppliers.
- To develop and promote best practice and be a centre of excellence on estate matters.
The DE's mission is: "To deliver estate solutions to defence needs."
The MOD is one of the largest landowners in the UK and currently spends over £1 billion per annum on its estate. In total, the estate comprises some 240,000 hectares across over 4000 sites; an area equivalent to about one per cent of the UK landmass. Sites can be described as 'built' (barracks, naval bases, depots, hangars, Service families accommodation, etc) or 'rural'. The built estate covers around 80,000 hectares including more than 45,000 buildings and 49,000 houses and it is on this that most expenditure is concentrated. The MOD also uses significant estate overseas, for instance in Germany, Cyprus, the Falkland Islands and Gibraltar, with major training facilities in Canada, Cyprus, Germany, Kenya, Norway and Poland.
Better Procurement: Better Estate
To deliver solutions to MOD estate requirements, DE will use the principles of Smart Acquisition through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs). Private Finance Initiatives (PFIs), such as Project Aquatrine to provide for the MOD's water and wastewater requirements, will continue to be used where appropariate.
Where PFI is inappropriate, Prime Contracting is the preferred procurement route. Five Regional Prime Contracts (RPCs) now provide core works and maintenance services across the defence estate in the UK. The first of these, in Scotland, was awarded in March 2003; other RPCs cover the South West, South East and Central with the final contract awarded in November 2005 for the Eastern region of England. DE has also awarded a Prime Contract to improve and maintain Service families accommodation across England and Wales – this is already provided for in the Prime Contract for Scotland.
In addition, a programme of 'stand-alone' Prime Contracts has been awarded to date, while Project SLAM, a 'functional' Prime Contract, provides for the modernisation of single living accommodation for Servicemen and women. These procurement initiatives will improve the value for money the MOD obtains from expenditure on both the construction and maintenance of the defence estate.
Property Management
The term Property Management covers all maintenance and minor new works below £240,000 (inclusive of fees and VAT).
The requirements for this type of work fall into two distinct categories:
a) Establishment Works Consultancy – Establishment Works Consultants provide professional advice about maintenance programmes and ensure that various specialist and statutory inspections are properly carried out. Commissions for such work will cover defined geographical locations and will normally be for a period of five years.
b) Works Services Management – Works Services Managers arrange maintenance and minor works at a defined site or group of sites by competitive sub-contracting. Contracts are normally for a three-year period and involve a fixed management fee.
Registering for Work – Constructionline
DE requirements are advertised in MOD Defence Contracts Bulletin (MOD DCB) and, where appropriate, in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). Companies wishing to express an interest must do so in writing, providing the information requested, to the contact point specified in the advertisement.
It is emphasised that companies wishing to express an interest must include all the information requested in the relevant advertisement. Companies will not be contacted for any information omitted from their response to the advertisement and subsequently their Expression of Interest will not be given any further consideration.
DE utilises a database which is a PPP maintained on behalf of all government departments. This is Constructionline, a UK register of qualified construction services.
Those companies and consultants who wish to be registered on the system should apply to the office below:
Constructionline
PO Box 6441
BASINGTOKE
Hampshire
RG21 7FN
Tel: 0870 240 0152
Fax: 01256 383899
Email: constructionline@capitagroup.co.uk
Professional Services
The following list of engineering disciplines (including design) is indicative of those required to fulfil Establishment Works Consultancy and Works Services Management duties on the UK MOD estate:
- A. Electrical Engineering
- High Voltage
- Low Voltage
- Domestic
- Industrial
- Heavy Engineering
- Aviation Ground Lighting
- Grading & Protection
- Lighting
- Power Generation
- B. Mechanical Engineering
- Heating & Ventilation
- Air Conditioning
- Lifts
- Building Management Systems
- Doors – Industrial
- Fuel, Storage & Suppplies
- Alarms & Security
- Building Services
- Energy Conservation
- Pipelines
- C. Civil Engineering
- Buildings – Construction & Maintenance
- Airfields – Hangars & Pavements
- Dams & Reservoirs
- Bridges
- Roads & Railways
- Drains & Sewers
- Dredging
- Hardened Structures
- Geotechnical Engineering
- D. Structural Engineering
- Masts & Towers
- Steelwork
- E. Quantity Surveying
- Contract Measurement & Evaluation
- Project Management
- Audit & Review
- Financial Appraisals
- F. Building Surveying
- Property Surveying
- Historical Buildings
- G. Environmental Engineering
- Public Health Engineering
- Water Supply
- Contamination & Pollution
- Asbestos Removal
- Environmental Management (including Environmental Impact Assessment)
- H. Architecture
- Architecture
- Landscape Architecture
For advice on DE, please contact:
Directorate of Contracts
Defence Estates
Blakemore Drive
SUTTON COLDFIELD
West Midlands
B75 7RL
Tel: 0121 311 2164
Fax: 0121 311 3707
Website: www.defence-estates.mod.uk
