The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), part of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), has outlined plans for up to £35m of refurbishment and upgrade works as part of a wider programme to modernise vehicle inspection facilities across the UK defence estate.
Details of the initiative have emerged through a newly published pipeline notice, which places the overall value of the Vehicle Inspection Facility Upgrade Programme at approximately £110m. A significant proportion of this investment is expected to be delivered through existing private finance initiative agreements and regional delivery frameworks already in place across the defence estate.
However, the DIO has identified around £35m of major refurbishment works that will require new procurement routes. The organisation has indicated that this figure could increase as the programme develops and individual project requirements become more clearly defined. The notice states that the programme is currently valued at £42m including VAT.
The planned works will focus on the refurbishment, upgrading and potential reconfiguration of existing vehicle inspection facilities located at defence sites throughout the UK. The scope of works is expected to vary considerably between locations, reflecting the differing age, condition and operational requirements of individual facilities.
Vehicle inspection facilities play a critical role in supporting the operational readiness of military transport fleets, providing the infrastructure needed for vehicle examination, maintenance checks and compliance inspections. Upgrading these facilities forms part of the wider effort to improve the efficiency and resilience of defence infrastructure across the country.
The DIO is currently evaluating a number of procurement strategies for the programme. Options under consideration include the use of project-specific contracts, programme-wide delivery arrangements and framework agreements. The organisation is also assessing whether projects should be procured individually on a site-by-site basis or grouped into larger regional packages.
This approach is intended to provide flexibility as the programme evolves, allowing procurement routes to be tailored to the scale and complexity of individual projects while supporting efficient delivery across multiple locations.
The upgrade programme will involve sites distributed throughout the UK, creating opportunities for contractors and supply chain partners with experience in defence, industrial and public-sector infrastructure projects.
While the final procurement structure has yet to be confirmed, the DIO has indicated that projects are expected to be delivered using the NEC4 suite of contracts. Specific contract options will be determined as procurement planning progresses.
According to the pipeline notice, the anticipated contract period will run from October 2027 through to October 2031, providing a multi-year programme of works across the defence estate.
The DIO currently expects to publish a formal tender notice in April 2027, with further details on procurement routes, contract packaging and project scope likely to emerge in advance of the competition process.
The programme forms part of the MoD’s ongoing investment in defence infrastructure, aimed at ensuring facilities remain fit for purpose while supporting the operational requirements of the UK’s armed forces. Modernisation of vehicle inspection facilities is expected to improve efficiency, support maintenance operations and provide infrastructure capable of meeting future fleet requirements across the defence estate.
