The flagship Clyde Commercial Framework will deliver a £1.3bn investment programme to ensure that personnel behind the UK’s continuous at sea nuclear deterrent are able to live, work and train in safe, modern facilities.
The programme includes a wide range of projects from relatively simple new-build projects in lower security areas like accommodation and training facilities to highly complex refurbishment projects on nuclear infrastructure in high security areas.
Previously work at Her Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde was carried out under the NGEC capital works framework.
These framework partners included: Henry Brothers, Galliford Try, Interserve, Kier Graham Defence and Lendlease.
The newly-selected firms will advise and deliver cost effective construction services and other infrastructure solutions for HMNB Clyde.
New DIO bid process
In the past teams working on Clyde projects had tried various methods of procuring contractors with varying degrees of success.
This time procurement specialists from Mott Macdonald and Jacobs helped DIO adopt an innovative supplier selection process to find teams with the right collaborative working cultures.
All companies that bid for work met core construction technical requirements, but selection was also about whether the contractor would make a good partner.
Potential bidders attended several industry days to evaluate their culture. Behavioural experts then observed, scored and helped to evaluate the behaviours of each firm in a series of practical exercises.
This included a series of interviews and workshops where companies worked together with the Clyde team to develop objectives, discuss how they would approach the work and how they would go about implementing their plans.
Ian Arbuckle, DIO Assistant Head of Commercial Services, said: “We are incredibly pleased to launch our new framework for the Clyde. We have successfully selected three reputable industry partners who have demonstrated a commitment to delivering better value for Defence.”
“The successful Framework contractors also commented on the new procurement process that it ‘Felt a refreshing way to do business, huge leap forward from a procurement perspective, and an enjoyable experience which they will learn a lot from.’”
DIO’s Commercial Strategy was launched last year setting out its vision for future ways of working with suppliers in the soft and hard facilities management, construction and property advisory sectors.
Central to the strategy is the importance of a broad and more diverse supply base by generating wider competition. DIO aims to increase supplier numbers and create a genuinely competitive supply base which offers greater opportunities to small and medium-sized enterprises as well as larger suppliers.