The Australian Capital Territory (ATC) Government has received six expression of interest (EOI) for the New ACT Court Facilities Project in Canberra.

The request for EOI was launched in July 2014. The six teams that are involved in the tender process are the following:

• Amber Infrastructure (Sponsor & Financial Adviser), Richard Crookes Constructions (Builder) and Brookfield Johnson Controls (Facilities Management)

• Grocon Developments Group (Sponsor), Grocon Constructors (Builder) and UGL Services (Facilities Management) and Brookfield Financial (Financial Adviser)

• Hindmarsh Development Australia (Sponsor), Hindmarsh Construction (Builder) and Cromwell Property Group (Facilities Management)

• Investec Australia Limited (Sponsor & Financial Adviser), John Holland (Builder) and Spotless Facility Services (Facilities Management)

• Laing O'Rourke Australia Construction (Sponsor & Builder), Programmed Facility Management (Facilities Management) and Macquarie Capital Group (Financial Adviser)

• Plenary Group (Sponsor & Financial Adviser), Watpac Construction (Builder) and Delta FM Australia (Facilities Management).

ACT Treasurer, Andrew Barr, commented:

The introduction of the Capital Framework and Guidelines for Public Private Partnerships (PPP) has established a solid basis for delivering complex infrastructure projects in the ACT. The strength and number of interested parties bodes well for the future of PPP procurement in the ACT, and I am confident the process will deliver high quality and value for money.

• Redevelopment of the Supreme Court to provide a fully functional integrated courts facility;

• Demolition of the Supreme Court building facade fronting Vernon Circle and provision of an annex wing that physically links the Magistrates Court and Supreme Court buildings and creates an integrated Courts facility;

• Enclosure of the existing open area between the Magistrates Court building to create a courtyard space;

• Provision of a secure linked custodial management facility to service both the Magistrates and Supreme Court buildings; and

• Retention of the heritage envelope and key significant fabric of the Supreme Court building.

The project is expected to meet the territory's needs for the next 50 years. The preferred bidder will be responsible for the design and construct the courts, providing maintenance and other support services over a 25 year period. The preferred bidder is set to be announced in 2016.

Attorney-General, Simon Corbell, commented:

The Law Courts project will deliver Canberra with court facilities that will meet the territory's needs for the next 50 years in a more functional, flexible and sustainable way. I look forward to engaging in the next stages of procurement and delivery for this important and iconic piece of the ACT's built environment.The high interest the market has shown in this PPP, the ACT's first, is also a very positive sign for future government projects.

Australia's Capital Territory (ACT) Government hosted on April 30th an open industry briefing to provide industry representatives with information regarding the New ACT Court Facilities Project. More than 100 people attended the industry briefing for the ACT's first public-private partnership.

In ealr May 2014, we announced that ACT was looking for a technical advisor for the project.