Downer has announced it had been awarded a new contract to deliver base and estate services to the Australian Department of Defence (Defence), valued at approximately $3.05 billion over an initial term of six years.
“Downer is a long-standing Defence partner, and has been providing sustainment, infrastructure, and estate services for more than 80 years,” the Chief Executive Officer of Downer, Peter Tompkins, said.
“We are proud of the role we play as the custodian of Defence estates, supporting the working environments that enable an agile and capable Defence force."
The Property and Asset Services (PAS) contract, which is part of Defence’s Base Services Transformation program, will commence in February 2026. The initial term runs until 2032, with two extension options of between one to three years each. A maximum term contract could see Downer delivering PAS for a total of 10 years.
“We look forward to working closely with Defence to deliver these vital services, leveraging our significant supply chain of 900-plus small and medium enterprises to drive efficiencies and improve environmental outcomes across the 30-plus major Defence bases that Downer will be responsible for," Tompkins stated.
PAS is the next generation of Defence’s base and estate services contract.
Under the new contract, Downer will provide base and estate facilities maintenance operations, aerodrome operations, land management, training area and range management, and integration services across the combined New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory region, and Queensland region.
This contract has represented an increase in Downer’s geographical footprint from the current Estate Maintenance and Operation Services (EMOS) contract to cover two of Defence’s largest regions.
Last year in December, Downer had completed work on the RAAF Base Williamtown upgrade project. The $180 million upgrade, completed as part of the Security and Estate Group-led National Airfield Program, has allowed Code E aircraft including the Airbus A330 (and the Royal Australian Air Force's KC-30A variant) to take-off and land at the base.