Strategic Sealift service

The increasing drive in the public sector for longer term partnership arrangements with suppliers is changing the nature of procurement in many areas. The focus is shifting to the provision of a service rather than the supply of equipment, buildings or infrastructure.

Through its central role in creating the AWSR consortium (now known as Foreland Shipping Limited), winning the bid for the Strategic Sealift Service and negotiating the contract, Houlder has become well versed in the Private Finance Initiative, and its use in the defence sector.

The Strategic Sealift Service contract addressed many new issues in the provision of an integrated shipping service in support of military operations with six new ships manned by British crews of Sponsored Reserves.

Bid Management - Houlder co-ordinated all works by the consortium members and was the interface with the client for Foreland Shipping Ltd which was awarded preferred bidder status in October 2000 and signed the contract with the MoD in June 2002.