Initially more than 50 companies expressed an interest in running the 4.6m sq m UK property portfolio — with bidders saying it is 'one of the big ones' estimated to be worth £160m per year for seven years.
The decision process at Consignia has been slower than expected, said one contractor, who did not wish to be named. But he remained confident the contract would go ahead.
He said a shortlist for the contract appears to be running two to three weeks late, which is not a bad delay for a contract of this size.
Consignia spokeswoman Christine Gregory said the company was 'pleased with how the talks are progressing with the prospective bidders', and that there had been 'a good amount of interest'.
'We are still at the stage where we are talking to interested parties,' she said. But she would not give further details about the shortlist.
Gregory said was no timescale for a preferred bidder to be announced or for the contract to start.
A spokeswoman for WSP, said she believed the contract was due to start in April.
The portfolio is made up of 18 different business units and 20 different types of property, and has 180,000 staff.
Source
The Facilities Business