Nowra-based Weatherhaven Australia has won the contract to provide the Controlled Environment Soft Shelter component of JP 2060 – ADF Deployable Medical Facility.
The company will provide 100 canvas Modular Tentage Systems (MTS) including connecting units which enable them to be assembled and configured for different medical functions.
Adelaide-based Hill Defence Products will provide 116 air conditioning units under a sub-contract from Weatherhaven; the contract includes options for further purchases.
Canadian firm Weatherhaven in British Columbia manufactures the MTS.
Weatherhaven Australia was set up recently with a minority shareholding by Global Defence Systems Pty Ltd to represent the parent company.
This contract was awarded under Block 1 of Phase 2B of JP 2060, which seeks to enhance the ADF’s ability to provide high-grade medical and dental care for deployed forces.
Block 2 of Phase 2B will see Defence call tenders for Controlled Environment Hard Shelters based on ISO shipping containers.
These will be required to interface with the MTS and will accommodate operating theatres, X-Ray suites, pathology labs, sterilisation services and an Intensive Care Unit.
Weatherhaven Australia says it will study the Block 2 RFT documentation closely, but believes it may have an appropriate product: the Mobile Expandable Container Configuration (MECC).
This is based on an ISO shipping container and is designed for several applications, including Accommodation shelters, Kitchens, Ablutions, Laundry, Command posts, Workshops and Medical facilities, including clinics,
advanced surgical centres, and turnkey field hospitals.
A number of MECCs have already been ordered by the ADF for various non-medical applications.
Hill Defence Products is building on this contract, and its recent delivery of air conditioner units for the RAAF’s mobile telecommunications suites, to bid for similar Army projects anticipated in the near future.