The Ministry of Defence (MOD) in the United Kingdom has a crucial role in ensuring the security, prosperity, and well-being of the nation.
It protects the people, territories, values, and interests of the United Kingdom at home and overseas, through strong armed forces and in partnership with allies, to ensure the UK’s security, support its national interests and safeguard its prosperity.
The Customer Challenge
The IT infrastructure was outdated at several bases in the UK and required a total refresh across the entire estate. New links were needed between buildings and new internal networks suitable to support the latest technology and high IT demands on the MOD.
Due to the sensitive and extreme importance of the MOD, ensuring a robust, reliable network infrastructure is of the highest priority. Connectivity between buildings and across the entire site allows real time communications between on-site assets and across the world.
All sites required in depth physical site surveys to Identify requirements, this included: OS and S cabinets; hardware/materials specifics; unique requirements; and any issues that may affect installation. Due to the sensitive nature of works on MOD establishments this is not always possible to conclude in a single visit and multiple visits often had to be scheduled to complete the surveys.
The MOD and the lead service provider required:
Efficiency – Ensuring a schedule of works were agreed by all stakeholders for survey and physical implementation.
Communications – Constant and clear communications with all stakeholders.
Security – Having the correct cleared personnel to work across MOD sites whether that SC or DV clearances, a clear differentiator for ITI and a key ‘must have’ from the MOD
By following the above the project were delivered to a high standard in a timely manner, maximising efficiency all-round.
Technical Challenge and Solution
It has been agreed for all future MOD works that a full non-intrusive survey is required of the full site to complete the Statement of Works (SOW) so the following requirements can be fully identified:
1. OS and S cabinet requirements.
2. All cables runs are identified within each building.
3. Full electrical survey.
4. All pits and ducts surveyed and rodded.
5. A full report is handed over to the customer and MOD.
The full non-intrusive survey was chosen to confirm all requirements this then led to a far more efficient completion of the SOW including the below:
1. Job costing.
2. Resources required both personnel and working /office area.
3. Materials required for the SOW.
4. Creating a correct schedule to cover all works with clear milestones.
5. Being able to identify any possible issues very early on in the project.
6. Have a clear start and finish date.
Project Delivery
At the earliest stage ITI approached the Lead Service Provider and the MOD site personnel to fully understand what the SOW requirements were and understand the needs of both.
ITI are fully invested in UK veterans and currently employ a high number of veterans who understand what the MOD requirements are and how they can be achieved. ITI have been awarded gold member to the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme.
The project was delivered in multiple stages as every building had different requirements. Outages had to be agreed with MOD as ITI would be taking down OS and S systems. Communication was key to ensure outages were fully understood and the correct information was sent out to users on the systems.
This project was conducted over a period of 8 months with multiple works being completed at the same time. It was noted ITI eye for detail and scheduling was key for the completing of the passive works on time and on budget. ITI have many ex-military personnel work for them and their knowledge of running multiple high level MOD projects and understanding of JSP 604 and 640 separates us from others. ITI also have their own SCIDA/IDA who completes all the QA for all MOD works.
Outcome and Feedback
The surveys and works were delivered in a timely manner to the full satisfaction of the MOD and Lead Service Provider. Surveys are key to all work, but this is especially true of MOD works. All MOD works now have surveys conducted prior to any works commencing.
Resourcing the correct personnel to complete the works to the highest standard and having the correct clearances at all times can provide a challenge with multiple projects being worked on at the same time, but with the investment in resources by ITI, this has been proved to be a key asset of the company.
Completing a fully non-intrusive survey is key for any schedule it allows the Project Manager to fully understand all aspects of the SOW. This ensures the following being correctly and resourced and scheduled:
1. Personnel and security requirements.
2. Productivity – ensuring the correct works are completed to the highest standard with no gaps in the schedule but also having back up plan in place in case of unforeseen issues.
3. Fully understanding what materials are required and what the time schedule is so we can be as costed efficiently as possible.
Completing works as scheduled within the agreed timescale and at the agreed cost benefits the MOD, Lead Service Provider and ITI. It makes ITI the benchmark for all future works of this nature in the MOD (see Citations below)
Key learnings were:
That daily reporting to MOD let’s all stakeholders understand any issues at the earliest opportunity.
Survey everything in advance and make sure access to all work areas is arranged in advance
Due to the nature of the MOD delays can happen due to UK Forces operational needs. This happened on a few occasions but having flexibility built into the schedule allowed works to be moved dynamically by utilising the daily reporting and strong communications on site.
The Project was complete on time and within scope, surveys, reporting, and communication are all key for future MOD projects.
What did the client say?
“Now that we have finished phase 1, I would just like to pass on my thanks to you and the team for a job well done, although we had a difficult start the turnaround has been excellent, and once the initial teething problems were resolved the standard of work has been excellent.
One of the major concerns and risks around the passive works were the cab swaps, which we know are complex, especially given some of the conditions we were dealing with in MOD, but everyone has been impressed with the outcome. The team were diligent in their approach, with excellent work standards, and the before and after comparison of the quality of the cabs is striking in its difference. It is a massive improvement on what was there before, and it is a great visual example to our customer of the quality of work that we are delivering as part of the project.
I would also like to give credit to your electrical team; their knowledge of the subject was impressive and at least now we know that we are leaving the cabs with CITR’s that can be trusted and electrical upgrades that have improved the infrastructure.
I look forward to working with you again in phase 2.”
Fujitsu Senior Project Manager
