The UK's Olive Securityhas the subcontract to provide security services to Bechtel personnel during the pre-positioning and fact-finding phases, while ArmorGroup Services (Jersey)is to provide advisory services for unexploded ordnance. The two companies join the US' Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company, which has started mobilising equipment for its emergency dredging subcontract on Umm Qasr port (MEED 2:5:02). The UK's Halcrow Grouphas also sent engineers to Umm Qasr as part of plans to reopen the southern port for humanitarian aid.

Bechtel has received tens of thousands of inquiries from contractors and suppliers seeking future subcontract work. As a result, Bechtel is planning to hold three conferences - in the UK, the US and Kuwait - in May. Details of time, location, who will be at each conference and what each will cover are still being finalised, but a spokesman said they would explain Bechtel's procurement procedures for Iraq subcontract work.

The majority of work will be procured through open competition, in accordance with the US government's public sector procurement rules. Competition will also be open to companies not already on Bechtel supply chain agreements.