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The Aus-US spy base located near Geraldton, Western Australia, is looking for contractors to upgrade its facilities and equipment.
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The Australian Defence Satellite Communications Station (ADSCS), often referred to as simply the 'spy base', is looking to spend up to US$10 million ($13.3 million) constructing a special electronic equipment building made of concrete with “with reinforced concrete or precast wall and roof components, supported on conventional shallow concrete foundations”, according to the US government’s Federal Business Opportunities website.
Other construction projects and upgrades include antenna foundations and other supporting infrastructure for the base and its staff.
The notice on the website also includes two more construction projects located at the RAAF Base Darwin.
The 455-hectare WA site is located in Kojarena, 30 kilometres east of Geraldton, and is jointly operated by the Australian Signals Directorate and the United States as part of a SATCOM partnership.
Originally the location was down-selected “as it is within reasonable commuting distance from Geraldton. In addition there are convenient access to roads, water, power and terrestrial communication services”, according to a publication made by the Department of Defence.
Other factors for the location choice included the “surrounding hills to provide some shielding from external radio interference and [are] inland by at least 10 kilometres so the station would not suffer the corrosive effects of salt spray carried inland by winds.
“Factors governing the final site selection included but were not limited to flora and fauna, Aboriginal heritage and space.”
