The Australian Department of Defence has always placed some priority on Australian content in their procurement processes. The emphasis has varied over time and evolved from Australian Industry Involvement, to Australian Industry Capability and the new buzz phrase of ‘Sovereign Capability’. This new perspective is broader and represents a more enduring capability focus, seeking long term Australian Industry growth in skills, training, employment, manufacturing and the defence supply chain as a whole.
To support this perspective, new approaches in maintenance and platform sustainment are being pursued. This week we look at an Advanced notice to industry for Regional Maintenance Providers to provide maintenance management services for Navy. This procurement activity is in response to the opportunities presented by Continuous Naval Shipbuilding and a key element of the Future Maritime Sustainment Model. The intention is to commence with the establishment of a Regional Maintenance Centre (RMC) North-East at HMAS Cairns and a Regional Maintenance Centre West to be located in Henderson. These RMCs will be implemented as a proof of concept and once validated will be rolled out to additional locations.
Defence will release two separate RFTs for each Maintenance centre with the approaches to market staggered as follows: Q4 2020 release for RMP North-East and Q1 2021 release for RMP West. Each RFT will seek an industry partner to provide maintenance management services including:
1. establish robust, reliable and resilient supply chains in the respective region;
2. liaise with the Commonwealth and suppliers to program, coordinate and verify maintenance delivery to meet demand;
3. drive implementation of standardisation and continuous improvement to enhance efficiency and effectiveness of sustainment delivery; and
4. work with local industry to support the continued development of sovereign sustainment capability over time.
An industry briefing will be held shortly after each respective RFT release. Details will be provided in the formal release documentation, and through Austender Notification updates.
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