Following Defence’s recent Strategic Review, Defence Strategy, and the Integrated Investment program, the Department has anticipated that there will be an ongoing and significant requirement for the delivery of major construction and capital facilities works to support the Commonwealth’s defence capability and sustainment requirements.

To support the efficient procurement and delivery of construction works, the Commonwealth is establishing the Defence Infrastructure Panel – Major Construction 2025-2030 (the Panel).

The Panel will be a whole-of-Commonwealth Government panel and Contractors will be required to carry out works for Defence and other Commonwealth Agencies. These works will be valued at or above $200 million, with an anticipated average value of $600 million.

The types of projects that are anticipated to be delivered include those related to airfields, heavy civil, fuel infrastructure, UXO remediation, environmental remediation, marine, engineering services and utilities, and explosive ordnance.

Panel Contractors may be engaged under any delivery method specified by the relevant contract, such as:

• Construct only: The contractor is engaged for the delivery of a project only, and the principal will provide the design.
• Design and Construct: The contractor is engaged to design and the construct the project so that it meets the needs of the principal
• Early contractor involvement: A design services consultant and one or more head contractors are engaged for the planning or design phase of a project.
• Managing contractor: The managing contractor provides for the involvement of a contractor at an early state of the project, and they are responsible for the planning, design, and deliver of the project, including the engagement of approved subcontractors.

Tenderers for this panel are to be evaluated on:

• Organisational past performance (80% weighting): The extent to which the tenderer has demonstrated the experience and capability to carry out the works)
• Approach to Organisational quality (20% weighting)
• Value for money (no weighting, the Tenderer will be evaluated with reference to whether value for money has been demonstrated)
• Commonwealth Procurement Rules compliance

There will be an Industry briefing on the 8^th of August, which will be hosted on Microsoft Teams.

The closing time and date for responses will remain open until the 17^th of September 2024. 

If you are after further advice on this topic or any tender opportunity, feel free to contact us. You can also subscribe to this newsletter for regular weekly updates.