External experts brought in to help assess Delivery Partner contract

The ODA has moved key members of its procurement team working on the Delivery Partner procurement into a secure central London location and brought in external experts including legal advisers to support the process.

The bids are currently being assessed and graded on technical and commercial criteria. A technical assessment team, with eight external staff, is evaluating the submission and will recommend a shortlist for approval by the Executive Management Board of the ODA.

The technical team does not include any member of either the ODA Board or Executive Management Board. The technical team's work will be examined by a Compliance and Oversight Group, drawn primarily from outside the ODA.

David Higgins, Chief Executive of the Olympic Delivery Authority, said:

"This is a significant contract for the Olympic Delivery Authority and one that is critical to the success of the Olympic and Paralympic project as a whole. We have in place a selection process that is rigorous and copper-bottomed in its integrity."

The ODA will enter into a 'competitive dialogue' process with shortlisted firms, talking to the firms in depth about the scope and nature of the contract. This is one of the first major contracts to be let in this country under this new European Union procedure, which recently became law in the UK.

The contract is set to be awarded in the summer.

Notes to Editors

The ODA has received applications from British and international companies and consortiums for the role of Delivery Partner. The Delivery Partner will help the ODA protect and manage the delivery of the venues and infrastructure required for the 2012 Games.

The Olympic Delivery Authority is a statutory corporation set up under the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Act 2006.

Media Enquiries

Contact the Olympic Delivery Authority Press Office on 020 3 2012 700