NT government seeking to expand industry into US

The NT government said the objective of the training package is to enhance local NT contractors’ ability to engage with, bid for and win DoD tendered construction projects and facilitate inclusion in prime contractor supply chains.

The first round of training, which the NT government hopes to have delivered between 5 June and 16 June 2017, is intended to complement an industry information day that will be conducted by US Naval Facilities Engineering Command Pacific Headquarters (NAVFAC PAC) in late June 2017.

It is expected that most businesses will want to send two to four participants. Depending on demand, more than one training session may be required to be delivered as part of this training package.

While the NT government is willing to provide a facility in Darwin for the delivery of the course, respondents may wish to offer for the training to be conducted at an alternate location.

The NT government will market the training and manage placements.

Earlier this year, NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner said defence procurement is at the top of the NT government's agenda, with plans to establish a team in Canberra to lobby the federal government and the US for defence industry spending.

The NT government said activity levels associated with the US Force Posture Initiatives (USFPI), which commenced in 2012, are steadily growing.

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The annual six-month deployment of US Marines is expected to reach 2,500 Marines from 2020, while 2017 sees the increase of dedicated US Air Force deployments to the Top End.

These deployments will deliver benefits to the NT and opportunities for the local NT Defence support industry.

The NAVFAC PAC has the responsibility of contracting DoD facility and infrastructure construction projects in the Pacific, including US funded projects associated with the USFPI.

Earlier this year, NAVFAC PAC issued a ‘sources sought’ notice for three projects in Australia on the US government Federal Business Opportunities website.

These projects included the following two related to the USFPI:

• An additional aircraft parking and refuelling apron at RAAF Base Darwin; and

• An aircraft maintenance facility at RAAF Base Darwin.

These projects are expected to go to tender in the third quarter of 2017. They provide an excellent opportunity for NT companies to compete for the work.

However, the DoD contracting system is very different from Australian processes. Consequently, the NT government is seeking to assist the local NT Defence support industry to compete for the work by providing some training to industry representatives.

The NT Defence support industry have been asked to register their interest in this training package here.

This training package is to be designed to directly assist the local NT Defence support industry engaging and contracting with the DoD. The training package should provide participants with ‘must know’ information on doing business in this very unique and challenging industry.

The training package should cover:
• DoD procurement and industry policies relevant to contracting in Australia and contracting with the local NT Defence support industry (e.g. ITARS);

• Prerequisites to participating in DoD procurements, including all registration requirements, identification of any eligibility criteria;

• Need-to-know information on the DoD procurement process, including key steps and an outline of the key issues raised in unsuccessful tender debriefing sessions;

• How to register for and respond to tenders, with a particular focus on addressing those matters to which local NT Defence support industry will need to pay special attention (e.g. experience, financial capacity, capability, ability to meet both US and Australian regulatory requirements);

• Compliance with US and Australian regulatory requirements, including strategies to assist local NT Defence support industry meet applicable US regulatory requirements; and

• DoD contracting requirements, with a particular emphasis on those areas that are or are likely to be different from contracting with Australian Defence.

Upon completion of this workshop, attendees will achieve a better understanding of:

• Global defence market trends and influencing factors as relevant to doing business with DoD;

• The avenues for securing work in the US defence sector;

• The US defence industry landscape key players;

• Winning business with DoD; and

• Any DoD industry support initiatives.

Respondents should outline the format, duration and maximum number of participants.

To respond to the RFT, visit the NT tenders website here.