VIVO Defence wins maintenance and housing services at US airbases – © VIVO Defence
VIVO Defence Services began looking after more than 1,000 operational building assets and 1,500 military family homes for the United States Visiting Forces (USVF) in the UK today (1 December).
VIVO, which works solely for the UK military and its partners, already provides asset and FM services as well as maintenance work at 20,000 operational buildings and 27,000 service personnel homes through Defence Infrastructure Organisation FDIS contracts.
Now it will carry out the contract, worth about £117 million, at eight main USVF sites and three associated ones across England.
In June, VIVO Defence was awarded four of five USVF contracts tendered by the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO).
From today, it is responsible for a range of maintenance operations at RAF Lakenheath, RAF Alconbury, RAF Croughton, RAF Fairford, RAF Menwith Hill and RAF Mildenhall. This includes linked sites at RAF Fylingdales, RAF Molesworth and RAF Welford.
The company is a joint venture between Serco, provider of government and public services including the Armed Forces – and EQUANS, which carries out FM, housing and low-carbon energy operations across defence, government, and the private sector.
Collaborative relations
Jerry Moloney, managing director of VIVO Defence Services, said: “Our mobilisation team has been working closely with DIO and the USVF in readiness for the start date. We are a key supplier for DIO and the MoD and it is great to carry out these services for the American air force on their behalf, we are really looking forward to bringing about new improvements and delivering the benefits of a strong collaborative relationship with DIO and our new USVF customers.
“I would also like to extend a warm welcome to the 250 new colleagues we are taking on to deliver these services and look forward to everyone across VIVO working with them to add real value to the contract.”
David Brewer, DIO CEO, said: “Cooperation between the US and UK is as important now as it has ever been. The presence of US Forces in the UK is of vital strategic importance as part of our shared commitment to NATO and the defence of Europe. These new contracts are a further step forward in improving the quality of service we provide to our US partners.”
Brigadier General George Dietrich, director of logistics, engineering, and force protection for US Air Forces in Europe and Africa, added: "Our joint partnership with DIO is key to delivering infrastructure-related services to support US Visiting Forces, their families, and our vital missions in the United Kingdom. We value our long-standing relationship with DIO and look forward to its continuation in the future.”
