US Air Force Bases in UK Benefit from Facility Management Contracts

According to a recent press release by the United Kingdom Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), facility management contracts benefiting U.S. military forces stationed in the region became active this month. The contracts, originally awarded in June 2022, are worth £117 million (approximately US$142.5 million).

Facilities management services, including property maintenance and repairs will be provided to U.S. Air Force bases at RAF Mildenhall, RAF Lakenheath, RAF Croughton, RAF Molesworth, RAF Alconbury, RAF Fairford, and RAF Menwith Hill. U.K. facility management companies VIVO Defence and Mitie were awarded the contracts, with Mitie receiving the contract for RAF Mildenhall and VIVO receiving the rest.

“Cooperation between the U.S. and U.K. is as important now as it has ever been,” said David Brewer, DIO’s chief operating officer. “The presence of U.S. Forces in the U.K. is of vital strategic importance as part of our shared commitment to NATO and the defense of Europe. I am proud of all the work DIO does to support the United States Visiting Forces, ranging from delivering major construction to support military capabilities to the provision of accommodation for service men and women. These new contracts are a further step forward in improving the quality of service we provide to our U.S. partners.”

The contracts, which also include the provision for a further £46 million (nearly $56 million) in additional services, were developed in close collaboration with the U.S. Air Force to ensure that the needs of each base had been fully considered. Lessons learned from the delivery of previous facility management services also helped shape the new contracts.

“We have worked closely with DIO and our new industry partners to launch this new phase of facility maintenance at our installations,” said Brigadier General George Dietrich, director of logistics, engineering, and force protection for the U.S. Air Force in Europe and Africa. “Our joint partnership with DIO is key to delivering infrastructure related services to support U.S. 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.”