DMO releases LHD tender

The waiting is over: two Australian primes, each teamed with a European shipyard, have been issued a restricted RFT to provide Navy's new LHD.
The DMO issued a restricted RFT for Navy's $2 billion large amphibious ship (LHD) program on 2 May. The two ships, to be named HMAS Canberra and Adelaide, are scheduled to enter service with the Royal Australian Navy from 2012.

"This is a major milestone in the process that will lead to final project approval and ship builder and design selection early next year, said defence minister Dr Brendan Nelson. It comes after an intensive design development effort by Defence and the two competing designers, in which the designs have been adapted to meet specific Australian legislative and regulatory requirements.

Two Australian companies, ADI and Tenix, will team with the designers to compete for the contract to supply the ships. ADI will team with the French designer Armaris to offer a variant of Armaris' 22,000-tonne Mistral class LHD which entered French naval service earlier this year. Tenix has teamed the Spanish designer Navantia to offer a variation of Navantia's 27,000 tonne BPE design for the Spanish Navy, which is currently under construction.

"Both prospective designs offer a quantum leap over our current capability and satisfy Government's strategic guidance," Dr Nelson added. "Selection of the preferred consortium to construct the ships will be determined on value for money grounds."

The tender documentation will allow bidding companies to:

? Submit fixed price bids


? Bid through life support solutions

? Provide innovative solutions to improve price and schedule.

Australian industry stands to benefit considerably from this project of national significance, Dr Nelson said.

Each ship will have the ability to transport up to 1,000 personnel, have six helicopter landing spots and provision for a mix of troop lift and armed reconnaissance helicopters. It will also be able to transport up to 150 vehicles including the new M1A1 Abrams tank and other elements of the Hardened and Networked Army. Each ship will also be equipped with medical facilities, including two operating theatres and a hospital ward.