Sub-Contractor's perspective
HOW A LOCAL CONTRACTOR HAS MANAGED TO WIN
CONTRACTS WITH THE LARGER CONTRACTORS
Jason Varcoe
Managing Director
NTC Contracting
jason@ntc.net.au
Outline
◦ Introduction
◦ How did we get there
◦ Company History, Growth & Development
◦ Key Points
Introduction
NTC Contracting has been very successful at gaining works on the
Wheatstone Project.
Major Contracts include:
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
“Early Works Civil” for Bechtel
“Non Permanent Works” for Bechtel
“QMC Bridge Earthworks and Road Works” for McConnell Dowell
“ISBL & OSBL Civil Works” for Laing O’Rouke
“Aggregate Cartage” for Thiess
“WWTP Irrigation Field Installation” for Monadelphous
“Site Civil Works” for Energy Power Systems
“Concrete Disposal” for Veolia
“Underground Civil Works” for CB&I
Introduction
Minor Hire Works include:
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
KEJV
John Holland
Zinfra
Mammoet
ATCO
Spinafex
Outback Trees
RockJV
BestJV
Keller
Peak Workforce was 120 staff on the project and we have
completed over 250,000hrs on the project LTI free to date.
How did we get there?
All of these works were not handed to us, we had to work for them.
Key Aspects:
◦ Prior to Wheatstone we were of medium size with 30-40 staff
◦ Had worked in mining environments but only as a minor subcontractor
◦ We spent time and money developing the company systems including
◦ Quality
◦ Safety
◦ Environmental
◦ Human Resources
◦ Financial
◦ We called, we researched, we networked, we tendered
Who We Are
NTC Contracting started as Northern Transport during the 1950s in
Onslow. The company was established by the McAullay family (a
local family living in Onslow) and provided the small township of
Onslow transportation and general civil services.
The company was purchased by Chris and Richard Evans in May
1998 and later commenced a regular freight run from Perth to
Onslow.
Northern Transport Company grew through haulage and small civil
contracts in the Pilbara often for mining clients
NTC Contracting Pty Ltd (NTC) was officially formed in 2008 as a Civil
Contracting branch of Northern Transport Company.
The Growth of NTC
NTC started evolving in the late 1990’s from running a regular
freight service and working on local contracting jobs within Onslow
into larger projects including mine site civil construction.
Late 1990
Loading for a trip to Perth
Late 1990
Prior to leaving for freight run to Perth
Early 2000 – Onslow Salt
◦ In early 2000 Onslow Salt started production in
Onslow.
◦ NTC tendered for and won the cartage contract
◦ The contract involved carting salt from the
crystallisers to the wash plant
◦ Was a 7 day a week 24 hour operation.
Early 2000 – Onslow Salt
Some of the first loads of salt
Early 2000 – Onslow Salt
Taking samples from the salt Stockpile
Mid 2000 – Cyclone Glenda
◦
◦
◦
◦
In March 2006 Cyclone Glenda hit Onslow as a Category 3 cyclone.
A lot of damage was caused to the Onslow Salt levee walls
NTC tendered for and was awarded the head contract for the repairs
NTC undertook HSE under the guidance of Onslow Salt.
Cyclone Track
Mid 2000 – Cyclone Glenda
Excavating for Wall Repairs
Mid 2000 – Cyclone Glenda
Sorting Armour Rock
2008 – Sino Iron Project
◦ In June 2008 NTC commenced work on the Sino Iron project under VDM Group building the
1700 man camp 123.
◦ This evolved into a Site wide Services contract under MCC for Civil Construction services
around the entire Sino Iron site
◦ NTC undertook their own HS&E, Quality Assurance and Human Resources Management
AG Mill Construction
2008 – Sino Iron Project
Terex MT4400
2008 – Sino Iron Project
Causeway Construction
2008 – Sino Iron Project
Health and Safety
◦ NTC managed HSE in line with site
requirements
◦ Used client supplied paperwork
Human Resources
◦ Developed site greenfields agreement to
meet site Industrial Relations requirements
Environmental
◦ Started using a waste management system
2011 – Macedon Project
◦ In June 2011 NTC tendered for and was awarded subcontract under OTOC for earthworks 350 man
camp.
◦ First Oil and Gas Contract
◦ On completion tendered Road Maintenance Contract under Technip EPCM
◦ Awarded Contract brought a great opportunity for NTC to upskill their management systems
Macedon Project
2011 – Macedon Project
NTC Commenced the Camp Construction
under OTOC
2011 – Macedon Project
All of NTC’s equipment had to meet the BHP Requirements
for the site
2011 – Macedon Project
NTC introduced regular stretching into our prestart meetings
Q1-Q2 2011
Wheatstone Project
February 2011
NTC initiated communication with Bechtel and was
able to undertake the project prequalification
April 2011
A large investment of time was required to update
systems to reach the standard required.
NTC completed the prequalification and was
approved as a First Tier Contractor
Q2, Q3 & Q4 2011
Wheatstone Project
May 2011
NTC was invited to tender for “Early Works Civil”
package
August 2011
NTC was awarded “Early Works Civil” package
November 2011
NTC Commenced work on the Wheatstone Project
Q1 2012
Wheatstone Project
18 Jan 2012
Ground was Broken on the CV Site creating access
along Camp Road 1 into the site
Q2/Q3 2012
Wheatstone Project
June 2012
NTC reached 50,000 hours on site without a lost time
injury
Q3 2012
Wheatstone Project
Sept 2012
NTC poured the very first permanent concrete for the
project in the Communications Tower base
NTC Development
February 2013
NTC achieved accreditations in Quality and Safety
Management Systems
ISO9001 – Quality Assurance
AS4801 – Occupational Health and Safety
Q3 2013
Wheatstone Project
July 2013
NTC was awarded our second major contract on Wheatstone titled
“Non-Permanent Works” consisting of
◦ Road construction and sealing,
◦ Drain construction
◦ Various civil maintenance works
NTC Now
NTC works closely with environmental personnel such as
Fauna Handlers to ensure appropriate management
of the environment
NTC Now
NTC has systems in place to ensure correct barricading
is always used
NTC Now
NTC promotes a family culture when it comes to
completing JHA’s, prestart meetings and Take 5’s
NTC Now
NTC takes inspections of plant seriously; undertaking
checks before any plant is started each morning
NTC Now
Heavy machinery has a lot of moving parts - NTC has
systems and procedures to manage and clean-up
spills
NTC Now
As per the NTC Fitness for work procedure, prestart
meetings and breathalyser checks are mandatory for
all staff every day and toolbox meetings held every
week
NTC Now
NTC is currently undertaking our Environmental Management
System Accreditation audit to achieve ISO14001
We hope to be able to display the below logo in our documentation
soon
Key Points
◦ Don’t expect contracts to fall into your lap because of
your location or expertise.
◦ Do your research about who is awarded what
contract, start cold calling.
◦ Be prepared to invest in Plant and Equipment if
required but don’t to this too early in case a lead falls
through
Key Points
Start working on your company systems
◦ Health and Safety
◦ Environmental
◦ Quality Assurance
◦ Human resources
Ask to become a prequalified supplier to some major contractors.
This process will help guide you through what is needed to become
compliant.
Questions?