diff --git a/docs/requirements.txt b/docs/requirements.txt
index ee1d7e063c..88dd5313d2 100644
--- a/docs/requirements.txt
+++ b/docs/requirements.txt
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 attrs==23.1.0
 catkin-pkg==0.5.2
 click==8.1.7
-craft-application==2.6.3
+craft-application==2.7.0
 craft-archives==1.1.3
 craft-cli==2.5.1
 craft-grammar==1.2.0
diff --git a/requirements-devel.txt b/requirements-devel.txt
index 5ce8af9759..3fa484f5f2 100644
--- a/requirements-devel.txt
+++ b/requirements-devel.txt
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ click==8.1.7
 codespell==2.2.6
 colorama==0.4.6
 coverage==7.4.4
-craft-application==2.6.3
+craft-application==2.7.0
 craft-archives==1.1.3
 craft-cli==2.5.1
 craft-grammar==1.2.0
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 0b722b288c..ac3b5b66b2 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ cffi==1.16.0
 chardet==5.2.0
 charset-normalizer==3.3.2
 click==8.1.7
-craft-application==2.6.3
+craft-application==2.7.0
 craft-archives==1.1.3
 craft-cli==2.5.1
 craft-grammar==1.2.0
diff --git a/snapcraft/commands/unimplemented.py b/snapcraft/commands/unimplemented.py
index 69d1b164a8..6dddb61d4c 100644
--- a/snapcraft/commands/unimplemented.py
+++ b/snapcraft/commands/unimplemented.py
@@ -44,6 +44,20 @@ def run(self, parsed_args: argparse.Namespace) -> None:
         # Fallback to the codepaths for non-core24-code.
         raise errors.ClassicFallback()
 
+    def needs_project(
+        self,
+        parsed_args: argparse.Namespace,  # noqa: ARG002 (unused argument is for subclasses)
+    ) -> bool:
+        """Property to determine if the command needs a project loaded.
+
+        Defaults to `self.always_load_project`.
+
+        :param parsed_args: Parsed arguments for the command.
+
+        :returns: True if the command needs a project loaded, False otherwise.
+        """
+        return self.always_load_project
+
     def run_managed(
         self,
         parsed_args: argparse.Namespace,  # noqa: ARG002 (the unused argument is for subclasses)
diff --git a/snapcraft/models/project.py b/snapcraft/models/project.py
index 2981f0b7cc..f990011278 100644
--- a/snapcraft/models/project.py
+++ b/snapcraft/models/project.py
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@
 from craft_grammar.models import GrammarSingleEntryDictList, GrammarStr, GrammarStrList
 from craft_providers import bases
 from pydantic import PrivateAttr, constr
+from typing_extensions import override
 
 from snapcraft import utils
 from snapcraft.const import SUPPORTED_ARCHS, SnapArch
@@ -602,6 +603,25 @@ class Project(models.Project):
     provenance: Optional[str]
     components: Optional[Dict[ProjectName, Component]]
 
+    @override
+    @classmethod
+    def _providers_base(cls, base: str) -> bases.BaseAlias | None:
+        """Get a BaseAlias from snapcraft's base.
+
+        :param base: The application-specific base name.
+
+        :returns: The BaseAlias for the base.
+
+        :raises CraftValidationError: If the project's base cannot be determined.
+        """
+        if base == "bare":
+            return None
+
+        try:
+            return SNAPCRAFT_BASE_TO_PROVIDER_BASE[base]
+        except KeyError as err:
+            raise CraftValidationError(f"Unknown base {base!r}") from err
+
     @pydantic.validator("plugs")
     @classmethod
     def _validate_plugs(cls, plugs):
diff --git a/tests/unit/models/test_projects.py b/tests/unit/models/test_projects.py
index 6fc2aec40f..0eba636ee4 100644
--- a/tests/unit/models/test_projects.py
+++ b/tests/unit/models/test_projects.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 from craft_providers.bases import BaseName
 
 import snapcraft.models
-from snapcraft import const, errors
+from snapcraft import const, errors, providers
 from snapcraft.models import (
     MANDATORY_ADOPTABLE_FIELDS,
     Architecture,
@@ -585,6 +585,21 @@ def test_project_build_base_devel_grade_stable_error(self, project_yaml_data):
         with pytest.raises(errors.ProjectValidationError, match=error):
             Project.unmarshal(project_yaml_data(build_base="devel", grade="stable"))
 
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        ("base", "expected_base"),
+        [("bare", None), *providers.SNAPCRAFT_BASE_TO_PROVIDER_BASE.items()],
+    )
+    def test_provider_base(self, base, expected_base, project_yaml_data):
+        providers_base = Project._providers_base(base)
+
+        assert providers_base == expected_base
+
+    def test_provider_base_error(self, project_yaml_data):
+        with pytest.raises(CraftValidationError) as raised:
+            Project._providers_base("unknown")
+
+        assert "Unknown base 'unknown'" in str(raised.value)
+
     def test_project_global_plugs_warning(self, project_yaml_data, emitter):
         data = project_yaml_data(plugs={"desktop": None, "desktop-legacy": None})
         Project.unmarshal(data)