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Defence has issued a request for information (RFI) on AusTender to gain an appreciation of Australian industry capabilities to design, manufacture and sustain military sea boats.
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Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group’s (CASG) First Assistant Secretary Ships, Sheryl Lutz, said the four-week RFI would help inform procurement options for Australian-manufactured sea boats.
“The RFI will help CASG determine a baseline level of Australian industry content to inform future sea boat procurements across the Royal Australian Navy,” Ms Lutz said.
“The military sea boat is launched and recovered from a warship or submarine for the purpose of conducting naval operations at sea and is considered an essential enabler of maritime capability.
“The objectives of the RFI include establishing what Australian industry capabilities currently exist, and could potentially be developed, to design, manufacture and support sea boats for the RAN.
“Normally Defence would host industry briefings around the country for such a significant RFI, however, given the current government guidelines around COVID-19 and mass gatherings we have pursued alternative information sharing options such as social media.”
The military seaboat is considered an essential enabler of maritime capability. This capability supports the rescue and recovery of personnel from the water, transfer of personnel and stores, and constabulary tasking and force protection.
The RAN is currently undertaking a Whole-of-Navy-Capability study covering the use of military seaboats. This study will review and update the RAN seaboat operating concepts and requirements set so that they reflect the RAN’s future needs, major ship acquisition and modernisation programs and a more complex maritime environment.
Part of this study requires an understanding of industry’s role as a fundamental input to capability and this RFI will be used by Defence to determine a baseline level of Australian industry capability for military seaboats and identify opportunities to increase Australian industry content across the various stages of the military seaboats capability life cycle stages, including:
(i) Design
(ii) Manufacture
(iii) Assembly; and
(iv) Sustainment (preventative and corrective maintenance, and supply of spares and consumables).
Defence also seeks to identify the technical readiness levels of Australian industry to meet its Seaboat availability requirements.
Vendors, both locally and internationally, will need to be registered on AusTender to access RFI details.
The RFI closes on 30 April 2020.
For more information visit: www.tenders.gov.au using ATM ID: SHIPS/RFI/13453/1.
