Defence Estates has shortlisted three consortiums for the Ministry of Defence's £460m regional prime contract for the South-east.
Babcock Prime Solutions, Serco and Pride, a special purpose vehicle between Interserve Defence and Southern Electric Contracting, are vying for the contract to provide maintenance and capital works at 94 MoD sites in the region.

A preferred bidder for the contract is to be announced in July 2004, with the deal to be awarded in November 2004. The contract will last for a minimum of seven years and have potential to be extended for up to 10 years. The deal will be the third of five regional prime contracts across Britain.

Defence Estates project director Mike Pearson said that the intention was to appoint the contractor that would provide best value but also one that would work in a collaborative relationship throughout the life of the contract.