Strategic Alliance

Strategic Alliance with the Prison Service Management Board

Facts and figures

  • 10-year alliance framework
  • Open book accounting
  • New build and refurbishment works
  • Work undertaken in over 20 prisons

When the Prison Service Management Board approved a new procurement strategy based on strategic alliances it established two framework programmes.

One covers the construction of new facilities and runs until 2014; the other, running until 2012, concerns refurbishment of existing facilities. Interserve has secured a position on both of the programmes.

These long-term arrangements enable constructors to plan their resources ahead of time to ensure delivery, reduce cost of bid preparation, encourage innovation and deliver best value. The philosophy is based on a 'one team, one goal' approach and the procurement of works and services involves teams of consultants and constructors working as integrated partners to deliver the whole of the capital works programme.

New build

Under the Strategic Alliance, Interserve has worked alongside Home Office Custodial Property and the local establishment teams delivering major prison facilities as follows:

  • HMP Ranby – Ancillary facilities (PPC 2000 pilot project)
  • HMP Liverpool – New healthcare unit and associated works
  • HMP Garth – New houseblock and activities building
  • Belmarsh West – Site remediation project
  • Holme House – Houseblock and ancillary works
  • Belmarsh East – Prison expansion project
  • HMP Kennet – Converting and upgrading of the existing NHS Psychiatric Site to a new 360 Category C prison

Refurbishment

Interserve has delivered consulting and /or design and build works in 15 prison establishments around the UK. We are currently working with eight prison teams and provide a full range of design and build services, together with early engagement at feasibility and project proposal stages. Our expertise and experience has been utilised on a variety of projects, often inside the live prison environment, including refurbishments to shower blocks, perimeter wall extension and refurbishment, alarms and building services upgrades, balustrades replacement and cell reconfigurations.

Benefits

  • Reduced procurement periods for works commencement by two months and more as all projects are covered under an over-arching OJEU notice
  • Benefits of long-term team working facilitates continuous improvement and capture of best practice
  • Early contractor involvement ratifies budget estimates
  • Open book accounting provides cost transparency and market tested competitiveness
  • Early specialist involvement engenders 'right first time' approach
  • The Strategic Alliance provides long-term learning opportunities enabling feedback from past and current performance for continual improvement and promotes; partnering relationships; continuous improvement; involvement of the whole supply chain in planning and delivery; and innovation.