Last month, the Department of National Defence (DND) broke ground on the largest modified-design-build (MDB) contract ever undertaken at 8 Wing Trenton: construction of the Main Operating Base-East for a new fleet of Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft. The MDB is one of several progressive and collaborative procurement models and project delivery methods that DCC applies to its work with DND.
Under the $850-million Strategic Tanker Transport Capability (STTC) project, the Government of Canada is acquiring nine CC-330 Husky aircraft. The planes will be used to refuel other aircraft in flight, handle medical evacuations, and transport personnel and cargo.
A single contract for the Main Operating Base-East covers the design and construction of an apron and taxiway, a two-bay hangar, and a fuel storage and hydrant system, as well as expansion of a flight simulator training facility.
“Typically, this would have involved four separate contracts,” explains Phillip Stafrace, DCC Team Leader, Construction Services. DCC Contract Services and DND’s Assistant Deputy Minister (Infrastructure and Environment) decided to bundle the work into one contract, keeping the project moving quickly.
“The MDB contract is a great mechanism for bringing on the contractor early in the process, so we could incorporate their insights right away,” adds Kayla Smith, DCC Technical Specialist, Project Management. “There are lots of things to do in a short period, because the aircraft have already been purchased and the flight simulator could arrive earlier than expected.”
Fortunately, DCC can draw on a deep well of expertise and corporate memory. “From project management to environmental services, we’re really providing multidisciplinary support,” says Kayla. For example, DCC Trenton’s local knowledge allows them to coordinate effectively with the stakeholders at the site.
The entire STTC project, which will also include new infrastructure in Edmonton and the North, is scheduled for completion in 2032–33.
