Frequently Asked Questions
Trainee Aeronautical Engineer
What is the latest progress?
Bids were received on 17 October 2005 for Package 1, from the Metrix and MC3 consortia. Package 2 Bids were received on 14 November 2005 from the Metrix and Holdfast consortia.
The nomination of Preferred Bidders for the two Defence Training Review ( DTR) Packages is dependant upon the Bidder's proposals containing sufficient detail to allow the commercial core of the deal to be clearly understood and a decision on the preferred solution to be taken.
At the conclusion of the evaluation process for Package 1 there remains some significant areas that require clarification in the Bidders' proposals. As a consequence we are undertaking a short extended clarification period to resolve these outstanding issues. This will clearly affect the published programme and we now do not expect the announcement of the Preferred Bidders until later this year, with financial close and award of the contracts expected a year later. This timetable will be subject to successful conclusion of evaluation of Package 2 and the MOD and Treasury's approval process.
A Written Ministerial Statement to this effect was placed in the House of Commons on 2 March 2006.
What is the DTR Rationalisation Programme ?
DTR is a Public Private Partnership (PPP) Programme to improve and modernise the delivery of 6 areas of specialist Phase 2 and 3 training. (Note: Phase 1 is Basic Training to join a service, i.e. Army, Navy, RAF, Phase 2 is professional/trade training and a service person is not considered to be on the Department's books as ‘trained strength' until he/she has completed Phase 2 training,Phase 3 is continued `professional development undertaken throughout a service persons' career.)
It aims to reduce the number of sites that are currently used for training, and will invest more money in fewer sites. These sites, once chosen, will be made into nationally recognised centres of training excellence.
Training will be delivered on a Defence wide, Tri-service basis and no longer separately by the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.
What is the purpose of the DTR Transformation Programme?
The DTR Transformation Programme will provide modern, cost effective specialist training, better accommodation and facilities, and long-term savings through the more efficient use of a reduced training estate.
The creation of National Centres of Excellence will also contribute to the training element of the Government's Agenda for Youth.
What areas of training are you going to rationalise?
The following areas of Specialist Training were selected as offering the best opportunities for improvement and modernisation. These included 3 engineering disciplines (air, electro-mechanical and communications/IT) logistics training, Joint Police and Personnel Administration and ‘Security, Languages, Intelligence and Photography'.
Isn't the DTR/Transformation Programme just another cost-cutting exercise?
It is not a cost cutting exercise, it is about providing a better learning environment supporting the MOD's wider programme to recruit and retain individuals of the right quality to meet our future operational needs.
Will increased ‘joint' training mean a loss of single service identity?
Implementation of the Defence Training Review proposals will not prejudice single Service identities. Recruitment and initial training will remain primarily single service focussed. However, there is a need to prepare all Service personnel to train and work together, as Joint Operations are an essential feature of Defence operations.
By bringing the three services together, we will be able to set joint standards of training, maximise operational flexibility and minimise administration costs and infrastructure.
Bidders have been made aware of the importance of maintaining single-Service ethos and will be building this into their proposed solutions.
Wasn't the training system working well before – are our military personnel receiving adequate training at the moment?
Yes, military training is working well but we cannot afford not to modernise and adapt to changes in technology and operational requirements. Our future solution will capitalise on the latest training techniques, for example: simulators, emulators and, where appropriate, distance learning. It needs to be flexible and adaptable to manage changes in throughput of trainees and ensure that our Front Line Commands get well trained specialists quickly and efficiently.
Why have you chosen PFI/PPP?
PFI was the chosen procurement method for the following reasons:
It gives the Department the flexibility to increase or decrease student throughput as the Partner will be able to generate 3 rd party income from any spare capacity.
It brings private sector management expertise and the ability to have significant capital investment in the estate in a short period of time, delivering a modern and flexible learning environment fit for today's servicemen and women.
It brings industry innovation and best practice training methods to MOD and the capacity to introduce new technology through the life of the contract.
It gives the ability to link payment to training results.
Defence School of Photography
How will this benefit our Armed Forces?
We envisage that the Programme will generate benefits in three key areas.
Enhanced Training Capability. This will be achieved by implementing modern training methods and facilities, and through improvements to the training estate.
Operational Benefits. The increased need to conduct joint operations means we will be able to respond more readily to operational demands and changing requirements.
Better use of existing funding. This will be achieved through the more efficient use of a reduced training estate.
Who are the Bidders?
We have received bids from the following consortia who were short listed for each package:
Package 1 : Aeronautical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and CIS.
MC3 - comprises BAe Systems, Vosper Thornycroft Group, Carillion, Flagship Training Ltd and British Telecom.
METrIX - comprises QinetiQ Group, Land Securities Trillium, Raytheon/Nord Anglia and EDS.
Package 2 : Logistics, Joint Police & Personnel Administration and Security, Languages, Intelligence & Photography.
Holdfast - comprises Babcock Support Services, John Mowlem, TQ Education & Training Ltd and British Telecom.
METrIX - comprises QinetiQ Group, Land Securities Trillium, Raytheon/Nord Anglia and EDS.
How much is the contract worth?
Until bids have been evaluated, the exact value of the contract will not be known. That said, the estimated cost of the DTR Programme is in excess of £10Bn.
How will the MoD pay for this?
Value for money is the key factor and any solution chosen must be affordable. We expect to be able to afford solutions from existing Departmental resources.
What is the time length of the contract?
We anticipated the optimum contract length being 25 years
How many site solutions are being considered?
Training related to the DTR Programme is currently delivered on about 30 sites but we anticipate this footprint being considerably reduced under the DTR Programme. Details of proposals cannot be released until the evaluation phase is complete.
Will you be considering the wider economic impact of the DTR Programme?
A comprehensive and rigorous evaluation of the bidding consortia's proposals is underway judged against defined evaluation criteria. Before a decision is reached on the preferred bidder, a Regional Socio-Economic Report will also be undertaken to assess the broader impact of the DTR Programme on the surrounding regions. This will not be concluded until the summer 2006.
Is this PPP proposal placing future training at risk?
No. There is considerable market interest and capability to meet our training needs. We will also ensure that operational capability is maintained during the transition process.
Why is there no in-house bid?
An in-house bid is not a feasible option as the significant capital investment required to transform future specialist training means that this is not affordable. The reduced flexibility arising from having to manage this capital programme in-house, which would make it more difficult to adapt the estate to meet future training requirements, would also diminish value for money. In addition, this route would not provide the innovation, performance discipline and risk transfer envisaged by the PPP and required by the Department.
Can military training be provided by a private organisation that is detached from military commanders in the field?
Senior military officers will command and retain overall responsibility for the effectiveness of our future DTR Defence Training Establishments. While our industry Partner will be responsible for training design and delivery, a strong military presence will be maintained to provide skills training and ensure that operational experience is shared with students and military ethos is upheld .
What are the DTR team doing between now and announcing the Preferred Bidders?
The DTR Team are currently:
Evaluating bid proposals for package 1 and 2, involving some 200 additional subject matter experts.
Managing key risks that could delay the programme or affect the solution quality.
Preparing Communications for the next phase of the programme.
Engaging the trade unions to understand issues in detail and how we can work together to minimise staff uncertainty.
Planning the transition to new ways of working post contract award.
When will the Contracts be signed?
After the announcement of Preferred Bidders there will be a substantial amount of negotiation and detailed planning that will need to take place before contracts are exchanged. We would anticipate a period of at least one year between Preferred Bidder and Contract Signature.
When will staff be expected to transfer to the new Partner?
Vesting Day, the day that staff transfer to the new Partner, is expected to follow 3 months after Contact Signature. This is now expected to be in 2008.
