Davis Langdon, F+A, Capita Symonds and Mace stay in the running for the key 2012 role

Preparations for the 2012 Olympics gathered pace this week, as the selection processes for both a construction programme manager and the members of the Olympic Delivery Authority moved nearer conclusion.

Three teams are leading the race for the programme manager job. The LDA is understood to have whittled down the 50 contenders to:

  • Franklin + Andrews, Capita Symonds and Kellog Brown & Root
  • Davis Langdon, Mace and Deloitte
  • Parsons Brinkerhoff
  • Others believed to be in the running were Gardiner & Theobold with Arup, Bovis Lend Lease and a consortium including Amec.

    The LDA has now passed the final decision to the ODA, a source close to the bidding process said.

    An LDA spokesperson said no official shortlist had been drawn up and that the final decision on the programme manager would be announced next spring.

    QS News also understands that major QS firms are bidding to work on a £1.2bn civil engineering package of work on a new Olympic park. It is understood that around 12 firms are due to submit tenders for the role this month, which will include earth moving and landscaping. The contract has been changed by the LDA, the client, from fixed price to reimbursable.

    The ODA has meanwhile appointed Nigel Shaw as head of procurement. Shaw is believed to have been an independent construction procurement consultant until now.

    In a further development, the London Organisation Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) was launched this week with the first meeting of its transition board, chaired by Sebastian Coe. The meeting approved the long-term office arrangements and a funding plan giving LOCOG £50m annually for three years. Members will serve for up to six months until the permanent LOCOG board is appointed before next April.

    I have a horrible feeling that people think there is a lot of time available for us to build the Olympics

    Leading cosultants have criticised the organising of the London Games. One senior QS warned that the building project was already in danger of missing its deadline. He said: “I have a horrible feeling that people think there is a lot of time available for us to build the Olympics.”

    He said: “The fact they are advertising jobs in the OJEU fills me with dread – 12 months will whistle by before they have finished seeing all the presentations and interviewing everyone”.

    Instead he argued that a small group of multi-disciplinary construction experts should sit within the ODA and select contractors and consultants.

    This week Capita Symonds appointed Duncan Wood-Allum as a director of sports and leisure consulting in London (see appointments, page 7). He was previously an account director at Capita Consulting.

    A team of eight from Capita, F+A and KBR are working for their “Legacy 2012” consortium full time, although they have extra support from roughly 20 further people.

    Capita Symonds did the transport assessment for planning consent for the 2012 Games.

    • Source

    QS News