A little-known contractor whose hedge fund parent last month appointed John Snow, former US Treasury secretary, as its chairman is leading a strong push to win a multi-billion-dollar military contract currently held by Halliburton.

IAP Worldwide Services - owned by Cerberus Capital management, the New York-based hedge fund - is making what is being seen as a serious bid to win one chunk of a huge defence contract to provide logistical support to US troops in the field.