Case Study
HMS Clyde Faslane Infrastructure Framework
Client: Babcock/UK Ministry of Defence (MOD)
Project: HMS Clyde Faslane Submarine Base Infrastructure Framework
Project Value: £500 Million
Role: Senior Commercial Manager
Duration: December 2018 – 2022
Project Overview
The HMS Clyde Faslane project involved a £500 million infrastructure framework to support operations at the UK’s primary submarine base. This strategic site, which houses the UK’s fleet of nuclear submarines, required significant infrastructure upgrades to ensure operational readiness and compliance with military standards. The framework included construction, refurbishment and facilities management across the site.
Kenny was engaged as a Senior Commercial Manager to oversee commercial negotiations and contract administration for this high-profile, mission-critical project.
Project Scope & Responsibilities
Kenny’s role began with negotiating and settling claims between Babcock and the MOD, ensuring fair and balanced resolutions on historical contract disputes. This required in-depth knowledge of contract law, a clear understanding of both parties’ positions and skillful negotiation to prevent litigation and maintain project momentum.
Upon the successful resolution of these claims, Kenny progressed to working with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) to engage contractors and administer NEC 4 contracts. His responsibilities included:
Contract Negotiation & Claims Settlement: Leading discussions between Babcock and MOD to resolve outstanding claims, ensuring both parties reached equitable outcomes.
Contractor Engagement: Working with the DIO to select and onboard contractors capable of delivering high-quality work within the strict security and operational requirements of a military base.
NEC 4 Contract Administration: Overseeing contract governance, ensuring all works were completed in line with NEC 4 standards, managing change control and tracking performance and compliance.
Budget Oversight: Monitoring the £500 million framework, ensuring financial controls were in place to manage costs effectively and prevent budget overruns.
Risk Management: Identifying and mitigating risks associated with delivering such a large-scale project in a sensitive military environment.
Key Challenges & Solutions
Claims Negotiation: Settling complex claims between Babcock and MOD required deep understanding of past project issues, legal considerations and financial impacts. By leveraging transparent communication and fostering collaboration, Kenny ensured a smooth claims resolution process.
NEC 4 Contract Administration: Managing multiple contractors under NEC 4 contracts presented challenges in standardising processes across various workstreams. Kenny implemented rigorous contract governance protocols to ensure all contractors were aligned with the project’s operational and security requirements.
Security Compliance: Working within a highly sensitive military base necessitated stringent compliance with MOD security protocols. This included ensuring contractors adhered to safety, confidentiality and operational requirements, which were non-negotiable in a defence environment.
Results & Impact
Successful Claims Resolution: Negotiations between Babcock and MOD concluded successfully, with all claims settled amicably, avoiding costly litigation and allowing the project to proceed without disruption.
Efficient Contractor Engagement: Collaborating with the DIO, Kenny managed the engagement of contractors, ensuring they delivered high-quality work within budget and to military-grade standards.
On-Time Delivery: Despite the complexity of the project and its operational challenges, the infrastructure upgrades were delivered within the project’s timeframe, ensuring the HMS Clyde Faslane base remained fully operational throughout.
Conclusion
The HMS Clyde Faslane Infrastructure Framework was a key project in maintaining the operational readiness of the UK’s submarine fleet. As Senior Commercial Manager, Kenny was instrumental in ensuring the project’s commercial success—from settling legacy claims to managing contractor relationships and administering NEC 4 contracts. Kenny’s work not only safeguarded the financial integrity of the project but also ensured that critical infrastructure upgrades were completed in line with military standards, on time and within budget.
This project stands as an example of effective commercial management in a high-stakes, security-sensitive environment.