An international invitation to tender has been announced as the infrastructure project for hosting the NATO Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) at Pabradė is underway. It is open to Lithuanian companies as well. It has been agreed between NATO, the NATO Support and Procurement Agency and the Ministry of National Defence that the procedure will be carried out by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency. Once the projected has been completed, the Pabradė Training Area will be one of the most modern training areas in the Baltics and fit to host up to 3 thousand military personnel in the best conditions for exercises and resting with proper logistical and technical support. The infrastructure will be available for Lithuanian, U.S., NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group and other allied troops deployed in Lithuania.
“Lithuania’s interest is the succession of the NATO deterrence measures in the region and enhancement of collective defence, therefore we need to be able to ensure appropriate conditions for the NATO allied presence in Lithuania if we seek it to be persistent. We have to consolidate our political agreements by actions,” Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas says.
In total, 13 objects have been planned to be built as a result of the project: barracks, training and leisure spaces, training, warehousing, technical maintenance buildings, military village road infrastructure and engineering services. One of the objects, a passenger and cargo terminal, as well as road and engineering services infrastructure, will be built in Šiauliai.
After completing the design phase, the NSPA announced an international invitation to tender for Lithuanian and foreign companies back in November. The contracts are planned to be signed in the first quarter of 2022 and the constructions are planned to be completed by the end of 2023.
The estimated value of the project to be carried out on national and NATO funding is approximately EUR 99 million.
The NATO Support and Procurement Agency has carried out projects for Lithuania before as well. It also takes part in other Lithuanian Armed Forces modernization, infrastructure development for Lithuanian and allied forces and acquisitions of military equipment and weaponry projects too.
The NATO Support and Procurement Agency is the main platform for public procurements of different products and services for defence authorities of NATO allies.
Photo: MoD archive
