Response to questions from The Canberra Times journalist Sarah Basford Canales re Development Project Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI)

Response attributed to Wayne Hitches, Executive Program Director, Development Project:

1. How many respondents were successful with their pitches?

Original Shortlisting from our Requests for Expressions Of Interest for each project was:

• Southern Entry = 4 Contractors shortlisted for tender submissions
• Anzac Hall = 3 Contractors shortlisted for tender submissions
• CEW Bean Building = 5 Contractors short listed for tender submissions.

2. How many have since withdrawn?

Two contractors have withdrawn from the Shortlists, one of which had been shortlisted for multiple projects.

3. How many more successful respondents is the AWM looking for?

To ensure the best value-for-money for the taxpayer, the Memorial is looking to replace the Contractors who have withdrawn.

4. What were some of the reasons given for successful respondents withdrawing? Were there stipulations in the agreement that successful respondents could not engage in more than one major project at a time? Were all the respondent withdrawals "due to other work priorities"?

The Contractor that was shortlisted for multiple packages has advised since their initial response to the Requests for Expressions Of Interest which closed on 3 March 2021, that they have won a very large tender outside of the ACT and the team nominated for the Memorial projects has now been diverted.

The second contractor has advised that it is currently undergoing organisational changes and is not in a position to service the tender at this time.

Contractors are not secured to the project until a tender is accepted and a contract signed.

CONTACT: Media team 02 6243 4575                     0409 600 038