Kier will start construction next spring. Once complete, it will maintain the community fire stations over a 25-year concession period.
Vinci was described by the client as a close second in the bidding contest.
This follows the recent selection of Blue3 to design, build, finance and maintain nine fire stations for the London Fire Brigade.
The stations set to be rebuilt are in: Burton-upon-Trent, Kinver, Lichfield, Longton, Leek, Stone, Chase Terrace, Rugeley, Codsall, Penkridge and Ashley, which will relocate to a site in Loggerheads.
Chief fire officer Peter Dartford said: “This is a major milestone in the project and is very significant as it takes us another step closer to a further 11 community fire stations. It’s fantastic news for our staff and local people. Five organisations qualified to take part in the procurement process, and this was reduced to just two bidders in July last year. Final tenders were received earlier this year and staff from all levels and sections of the Service have been involved in the evaluation. It was a close contest with both companies, Blue3 and Vinci, producing excellent submissions. We now look forward to progressing the project with Blue3.”
The project is the second private finance initiative (PFI) funded project the service has taken on. The first project has seen the rebuild of seven stations and the building of three additional stations, all of which are now operational.
Fire & Rescue Authority chairman Len Bloomer said: “Our first community fire stations project has exceeded our expectations and we’re confident this second project will be equally successful. Like the buildings in our first project these stations will have state of the art operational facilities and dedicated community areas. It is widely recognised that we are leading the way in the UK Fire & Rescue Service and these purpose built community embracing fire stations will ensure that we remain at the cutting edge of development of new ways of working with and supporting local people.”
The next steps in the project will involve Blue3 finalising the design of all 11 buildings and producing a building schedule. Full planning applications will then be submitted and the final contract is due to be signed in spring 2013. Following this construction can commence on the buildings.
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