British Govt. Plans $3B Outsourcing Contract

LONDON-The British government has launched the phased sale of its run-down 3.8-million-sf estate in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland Civil Service has published an invitation for expressions of interest in the euro 2.2-billion ($2.6-billion) outsourcing contract in the Official Journal of the European Union.

The single contract will involve the private sector buying and leasing back operational property, disposing of redundant buildings, refurbishing retained property and managing the facilities on those properties leased back to the government. Effectively, the government is outsourcing estate, building and facilities management to the private sector.

The advertisement states that the Department of Finance and Personnel will brief interested parties in Belfast on Dec. 8. They will then have until January 23 to submit preliminary proposals. Officials will then select three or four prospective partners to draw up more detailed proposals. The aim is to award the contract by the end of next year.