December 15, 2008—Achieving Defra’s sustainability targets is at the core of the FM service offering from Interserve for this 15-year Sustainable Built Environment Workplace Support (SBEWS) contract that encompasses 186 sites across England and Wales.
The contract involves three Category 4 laboratories, 39 Category 3 laboratories, 226 other laboratories and 162 offices. It encompasses a number of core Executive Agencies including:
- Animal Health
- Central Science Laboratory
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science
- Government Decontamination Services
- Marine & Fisheries Agency
- Regulatory Science Agency
- Rural Payments Agency
- Veterinary Laboratories Agency
- Veterinary Medicines Directorate
- Natural England
The core services value of the contract is approximately 500m, although it is expected that the full value of services delivered, including projects and additional works, will significantly exceed this, according to Interserve.
Interserve will operate as a long-term strategic partner for Defra, sharing the Department’s goals. The SBEWS program is more than a conventional FM contract, and as well as a broad range of “normal” FM services such as buildings maintenance and waste management. It also encompasses more strategic services such as energy procurement and management, professional and project services and fleet management.
The main benefits delivered for Defra by the contract include:
- Annual savings and continuing cost reductions over the 15-year term of the contract;
- A commitment to investing in the Defra estate achieving and exceeding sustainability targets for waste and recycling, energy and water consumption, carbon emission and biodiversity;
- Continuing investment in sustainability and environmental performance, aimed at influencing behavioral change, accommodation use and exceeding longer term Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate (SOGE) targets;
- A flexible contract; and
- A single national point of contact for Defra’s building and accommodation needs.
Interserve will also analyze and present options to Defra in several other areas for example, telecommunications, transport, travel and accommodation, and a detailed assessment of building layouts and occupancy. Staff that currently provides FM services to Defra will transfer to Interserve.
For more information, see the Interserve Web site.
