1.19 MOD invited bidders, at the Invitation to Submit Outline Proposals stage of the procurement, in June 1997, to comment on the extent of opportunities to create significant amounts of additional office space to accommodate more than 3,300 staff in Main Building. Some proposals envisaged the creation of sufficient space to allow the closure of the Old War Office. MOD's technical evaluation of these proposals, however, raised serious doubts about their overall viability, the quality of the resulting working environment and cost-effectiveness. Instead at the Invitation to Negotiate stage, in November 1997, MOD invited alternative bids from both Modus and Modem, the other shortlisted bidder, to accommodate up to 600 more staff in Main Building. This was to provide for further accommodation for non-Head Office staff if MOD could not find alternative accommodation either in or outside London.
1.20 MOD, when considering the variant bids in July 1998, concluded that the bidders' proposals were not cost-effective because significant design and build effort would be required and the timetable for the completion of the redevelopment would have to be extended. MOD, therefore, decided not to pursue this option further. MOD also judged that there was no long-term, i.e. 30-year requirement for the extra accommodation, either in Main Building or in a third London building.