Case Study — Infrastructure A38 Major Road Network
NEC Project Manager and Commercial Advisor to North Somerset Council on the A38 Major Road Network scheme, a two-stage contract with Octavius under an NEC Professional Services Contract, moving to NEC ECC Option C for construction.
The challenge
Nine improvements along a key regional corridor
North Somerset Council, working with Somerset Council and funded through the Department for Transport’s Major Road Network programme, is improving nine locations on the A38 between Barrow Tanks and the Edithmead Roundabout at M5 Junction 22. The aims are more reliable journeys, safer roads and better options for walking, cycling and public transport.
Five of the locations are in North Somerset: Barrow Lane to Dial Lane, West Lane to the Airport Terminal roundabout, the Airport Terminal to Silver Zone roundabouts at Bristol Airport, Langford, and Sidcot Lane to Hillyfields. The council appointed Octavius through the Gen-5 framework on a two-stage basis, with Stage 1 design under an NEC Professional Services Contract and construction to follow under NEC ECC Option C.
Delivered by Ollie Thompson MRICS in a previous role at Rider Levett Bucknall.
Project facts
At a glance
Appointed as NEC Project Manager and Commercial Advisor across a two-stage contract: an NEC Professional Services Contract for Stage 1, with construction to follow under NEC ECC Option C.
Client
North Somerset Council
Location
A38 corridor, North Somerset
Funding
Department for Transport Major Road Network programme
Contract
NEC PSC (Stage 1), then NEC ECC Option C
Our role
NEC Project Manager and Commercial Advisor
Procurement
Two-stage, via the Gen-5 Civil Engineering, Highways and Transportation framework
Scheme
Five junction and corridor improvements, part of a nine-location scheme
Objectives
Journey reliability, road safety and active travel
Main contractor
Octavius
Our approach
From inception to contractor appointment
Two-Stage Procurement
Supporting the council through two-stage procurement on the Gen-5 framework and setting up the contractor’s Stage 1 commission under the NEC Professional Services Contract.
NEC Contract Management
Acting as NEC Project Manager on the PSC, managing early warnings, compensation events, programme submissions and payments.
Design Development
Managing the contractor’s detailed design across five locations and coordinating it with the council’s highways, design and stakeholder teams.
Commercial Advice
Advising the council on cost, risk and scope, and reviewing the contractor’s pricing as the target cost for construction was developed.
Main Contract Preparation
Preparing for construction under NEC ECC Option C, a target cost contract with an activity schedule and shared pain/gain.
Construction Readiness
Setting up the reporting, change control and cost management needed to run the construction phase under Option C.
The outcome
A two-stage route to a target cost
Locations
On the A38 from Barrow Tanks to M5 Junction 22, five of them in North Somerset.
Stage contract
Design under the NEC PSC, with construction under NEC ECC Option C.
Funded
Through the Department for Transport’s Major Road Network programme.
Images: North Somerset Council. See our Project & Programme Management, Contract Administration and Cost & Commercial Management services.
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