The SCA Group’s Marine Scaffolding Division have already played a key role in the construction of the first phase of the new Type 26 vessels in Govan and Scotstoun Dockyards, as well as the OPV class ships and Carrier Projects, working closely with BAE Systems at all stages of the projects. Thanks to a strong working relationship with the client and a consistently high level of performance and dedication to safe working practices in such a demanding environment, SCA are delighted to announce that we have now secured the contract to complete the entire Type 26 Batch 1 Programme and retain a long-standing presence North of the Border.
The new Type 26 Global Combat vessels will be a versatile, highly capable, advanced warship capable of completing multiple missions and designed to provide support for air defence and anti-submarine warfare as well as fulfilling the need to carry out general purpose operations across the world’s oceans.
HMS Glasgow has been in production for two years and is scheduled to enter operational service in 2027, and the first steels have now been cut for the frigate HMS Cardiff – the second vessel in her class. The production of the vessels is a truly UK-wide enterprise and will support thousands of jobs both in Scotland, and across the UK, and makes a huge economic contribution to the country. The programme is expected to sustain some 4,000 jobs across the UK and provides a decade-long foundation for work in Glasgow.
SCA is proud to retain their responsibility in the build process and will provide a comprehensive package of specialist access and containment services throughout the entire programme. This will include the provision of scaffold design, scaffold and containment supply (traditional tube and fit and specialist systems), and scaffold containment and erection, inspection and removal.
SCA’s services will form an integral part of the BAE Ship build programme supporting not only the client, but also the network of subcontractors delivering the project. Such an important and prestigious project demands a rigorous selection process and SCA were successfully selected as BAE’s preferred bidder for these services through a process that started over a year ago.
BAE required all potential bidders to be stringently assessed according to technical ability to perform the work, and current and historic performance in key areas such as delivery, safety, quality and financial stability to pre-qualify for the tender process. The tender itself was required to provide further detailed technical and commercial submissions which were then scored and ranked by BAE in order to determine the overall best solution to deliver the required works.
Out of the final five companies that were pre-qualified to submit their bids, SCA were selected by BAE as the successful candidate due to our ability to provide a highly skilled service and workforce in delivery in the demanding shipbuilding environment, and also in recognition of a fair and robust price that provided the optimum solution for both BAE and the main client.
SCA takes great pride in not only all of our workmanship but all successes across the entire business portfolio. But securing the successful bid for such an illustrious contract as this is something we hold in extremely high regard and is a great recognition and testament to not only our team in Scotland, but to the management of the business as a whole. We are extremely pleased that we have achieved recognition from BAE Systems as a valued supplier to their network of subcontractors, and look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with them., and ultimately, the successful delivery of this project.