DIO joins forces with industry partner to support Brazilian Navy
The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and Babcock International Group joined forces to give the Brazillian Navy an insight into delivering facilities and services for the UK’s Armed Forces across the South of England.
They recently hosted a three-day visit to five sites for Brazilian defence lead on infrastructure Rear Admiral Helio Mourinho Garcia and his colleagues to number of projects being considered as part of an infrastructure improvement programme for the Brazilian Armed Services.
The visit aimed to brief the South American visitors on Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts in Hard FM – the physical maintenance of buildings and equipment – and Soft FM – the provision of support services, such as cleaning and catering.
Bill Yardley, DIO Head of Projects, said: “DIO’s priority is to support our Armed Forces as they prepare for operations. We assess the military requirements and translate these into maintenance and support contracts, before working closely with industry partners such as Babcock to deliver what is required.”
Rear Admiral Garcia; Capt Cesar de Oliveira Dias; Capt Rogerio Moreira dos Santos and Lt Bianca Gomes Soares G Mendonga, looked to gain from the UK’s experience in setting up and running such contracts.
Paul Matthews, Project Director for Debut Services and Babcock, said: “Each site visit was a great success and the teams were able to demonstrate a different perspective of the services being delivered on the contract. The visitors were particularly impressed with the integrated approach between DIO, Babcock and our military customers.”
Day one of the visit began with a trip to the Royal School of Military Engineering which provided an opportunity to see how training is provided and supported. Following a presentation on the services provided, the team were given a tour of the accommodation facilities and other support facilities.
Day two provided an insight into how Debut Services’ Regional Prime Contract South West team supports the British Army in the training of Armoured Fighting Vehicle personnel at Bovington in Dorset. The trip to the Armour Centre, the British Army's centre of excellence for training in the core skills of armoured warfare, included a visit to the tank training area.
The team was welcomed to RNAS Yeovilton by Commodore Paul Chivers OBE, Commanding Officer and DIO’s Site Estate Team Leader (SETL) Stuart Reeve. It provided an opportunity to visit a Single Living Accommodation Modernisation (SLAM) block, sports and leisure facilities and Babcock’s Technical Services Centre.
Day three saw a visit to Abbey Wood, where the Soft Services Team provided an insight serving over 10,000 customers. This was followed by a visit to Imjin Barracks, the former RAF Innsworth station that was regenerated into a modern and sustainable headquarters for Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC), one of NATO’s front-line high readiness forces.
Ends
Further information:
Press enquiries to: Tony Moran, DIO Press Office: 0121 311 3879 or tony.moran572@mod.uk
Notes to editors
1. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) is part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD). It is responsible for managing and maintaining land and properties to meet the current and future needs of the MOD and personnel at home and abroad, and to support current operations.
2. Our work includes providing, supporting and improving: operational units; single living and service family accommodation; training areas and historic military sites. DIO actively manages these to ensure the needs of Defence are met, value for money is achieved, our heritage is protected and to achieve our environmental goals.
3. Debut Services is a Joint Venture company between Lend Lease and Babcock International Group and was formed in response to the MOD's Prime Contracting Initiative to drive efficiency and best value across the defence estate. Debut benefits from the proven global strength of Lend Lease, one of the world's largest real estate solutions providers, and Babcock International Group’s recognised proven track record as one of the UK’s largest providers of property management services. Debut manages both the Regional Prime Contract for the South West and the Functional Prime Contract to build, refurbish and maintain Single Living Accommodation for HM Armed Forces (Project SLAM).
4. Photo Caption. From left to right: Paul Matthews, Debut and Babcock Project Director; Stuart Reeve DIO SETL at Yeovilton; Commodore Paul Chivers OBE, Commanding Officer; RAdm (lM) Helio Mourinho Garcia; Capt Rogerio Moreira dos Santos; Capt Cesar de Oliveira Dias; Lt Bianca Gomes Soares G Mendonga
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