Re Contract

Babcock International Group PLC
04 November 2003


Date:                 4 November 2003

Contact:              Peter Rogers, Chief Executive
                      Babcock International Group PLC
                      Telephone: [phone]


                      Richard Mountain / Rob Gurner
                      Financial Dynamics
                      Telephone: [phone]


              Babcock-led consortium wins preferred bidder status
    for £500 million Ministry of Defence South West Regional Prime contract


Babcock International Group PLC ('Babcock'), the support services company,
announces today that its consortium with Bovis Lend Lease - Debut Services
(South West) Limited - has been selected as the preferred bidder by the Ministry
of Defence (MoD) to provide all property maintenance and future capital works
schemes across the MoD estate in the South West of the United Kingdom.


The Regional Prime Contract South West (the contract) will start in 2004 for a
seven year period, after which the MoD has an option to extend the contract for
a further three years. The contract will involve in excess of £500m of
expenditure for maintenance services and capital works.



The contract is for support to MoD Defence Estates and includes Royal Navy,
Army, Royal Air Force and DLO establishments in an area ranging from Gloucester
in the North, Portsmouth in the South, to Culdrose in the West.  The contract
forms a central part of the MoD's initiative to provide a higher quality estate.


The value of the contract to Babcock is in excess of £450m over its seven year
period.  It will involve Babcock providing comprehensive building and
infrastructure maintenance service, geared to improving the overall condition of
the estate.  Bovis Lend Lease will manage the capital works programme.


Peter Rogers, Chief Executive of Babcock International Group PLC, said:


'Babcock is delighted to have been selected as preferred bidder for this
important contract, which further extends our relationship with the MoD. This is
the second major success for the Debut consortium, following last year's Single
Living Accommodation Modernisation contract win, and provides further evidence
of the success of our acquisition of SGI last year.'


                                     -Ends-



Notes to editors:
About Babcock International Group PLC



Babcock International Group PLC is a support services business providing
technical services, training and facilities management to the defence and civil
sectors.  In the year to 31 March 2003 sales from continuing business were £409
million.



The Group operates in two principal sectors: Technical Services (engineering and
support services in defence, rail, marine and secure facilities sectors) and
Training & Support (support services, training and facilities management for the
defence and civil sectors).



Babcock's head office is in London and the Company's shares are quoted on the
London Stock Exchange. For further information, please visit Babcock's website
at www.babcock.co.uk.




                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange