Search Page | Page 5227

The lucrative Government Telecommunications Contract has been overhauled to allow business to be conducted online and in a simplified format. The new agreement allows providers to supply services under the broader headings of application, managed or telecoms services. Only nine of the 27 original IT and telecoms suppliers have been retained, and will be joined by 23 new suppliers.

Vehicles alliance_2

One of the Ministry of Defence's key logistics agencies has formed a strategic agreement with a military vehicles supplier. The Army Base Repair Organisation and Alvis Vehicles will develop an integrated approach to equipment support for its transport requirements.

Smiths to demerge_2

Smiths, the aerospace group, is to demerge its automotive division. The move comes after nine months of seeking a buyer for the division which it inherited from its takeover of engineering company the TI Group last year. Smiths’ management will have no involvement in the business, although it will retain a 20 per cent equity in the new company, which is at present unquoted.

BP under pressure_2

Oil company BP’s partners are understood to be attempting to force the company to use US contractors for the construction of a new oil platform. The partners, including Chevron and Conoco, claim that US shipyards offer savings of up to a third compared with UK companies, for the oilfield in Clair, west of Shetland. BP has said it will strongly argue the case for domestic contractors.

Vertical Take Off_2

In 1992, British Aerospace recorded the biggest single asset write-off in UK corporate history. Yet, by 1999, it was able to acquire its largest national rival in a £7.8 billion deal.

Commons faces bill_2

The House of Commons has been landed with a £10 million bill for damages after breaches of procurement regulations in the award of a contract for the new MPs’ offices at Portcullis House, according to a report from the National Audit Office.

Levy deadline news_2

Renewable electricity generators who want to apply for their output to qualify for an exemption from the climate change levy, due to be introduced on 1 April, must fill out an Ofgem questionnaire by 16 February. More information is available at www.ofgem.gov.uk.

‘Pay on time’ call_2

The Better Payment Practice Group, which campaigns against late and bad payment, is holding “Collect the Cash” seminars across the country this month, covering invoicing and collection, encouraging prompt payment and overcoming delaying tactics. Tickets costs £12. For more details, call 020 7369 9333 or visit www.payontime.co.uk.

Green plan blasted_2

Proposed procedures obliging energy suppliers to commit to renewable contingency plans are a bureaucratic cost burden, according to a lobby group.

Assembly wide open_2

If the halted Welsh Assembly building becomes a private finance initiative project, Grosvenor Waterside, the landowner of the assembly site, could take over construction.