The contractor was neck-and-neck this week with a Bovis-led team as final interviews and presentations were taking place for an appointment to work on the complex next to the M4 at Brentford, north London.
A team comprising developer Heron and contractor Mowlem was in third place. Another led by property group Development Securities, which was planning to use Mace as construction manager, had slipped to a reserve fourth place.
There was speculation that Amec had signed an exclusivity deal with SmithKline, but the client declined to comment on this or any other aspect of the deal.
SmithKline has been having confidential discussions for months, and would only confirm that it is exploring a private sector-run, private finance initiative-type deal. It would not name the companies on its shortlist, but said an appointment would be made in April.
The deal is designed to hold down the client's initial capital investment on the 79 000 m2 complex. It will also involve the winning bidder maintaining the building. If the firm fails to deliver to an agreed service, it will be penalised.
Industry sources said Amec is a front-runner partly on the strength of its work for the Department of Social Security in Newcastle, were, it is funding, building and running the first major PFI accommodation deal. Although SmithKline Beecham is in the private sector, it makes similar demands as a client as the DSS, and several of the team from Amec Project Investments involved with the DSS project are also working on the SmithKline bid.
Bovis, working with developer Stanhope and investment bank Schroder, is also tipped because of its expertise on PFI accommodation projects.
It is preferred bidder for the Treasury's headquarters, where an innovative competition for banks to bid for the funding package is about to be launched.
SmithKline released a statement this week announcing the start of piling and earthworks on the project by contractor PJ Carey. It had previously planned to take office space at Stockley Park business park near Heathrow, but bought the Brentford site when Korean giant Samsung cancelled its plans to move there.
Gardiner & Theobald Management Services is SmithKline's project manager, Mace construction manager, Hillier Group/RHWL architect, Gardiner & Theobald QS and WSP engineer. Agents King Sturge and Jones Lang Wootton are also advising.
