The shortlisted companies, who had responded to a call for expressions of interest, are ADI Limited, BAE Systems Australia, KAZ Technology Services, Raytheon Australia and RLM Systems and will compete for the contract for the command center's computing, communications and intelligence systems.

The contract to construct and operate the facility on farming land between Bungendore and Queanbeyan near the Kings Highway was awarded to Praeco, a consortium of Leighton Contractors and ABN Amro, in June 2006.

The value of the contract has been estimated over a 30-year term and will include capital cost of the building and infrastructure, cost of contracted services like access control, administrative and clerical support, waste removal and maintenance.

Praeco will build, operate and maintain the new facility for the term of the contract. Defence is responsible for procurement, installation and maintenance of command, control, communications, computing and intelligence systems. Some 750 Defence service and civilian personnel will work in the new headquarters.

Defence staff are expected to occupy the facility by the end of 2008. The new headquarters will consolidate the Chief of Joint Operations in Canberra with dispersed Defence logistics and strategic staff in and around Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra.