A defence maritime industry day hosted by Babcock Australasia and Atlantic & Peninsula in Sydney on 22 August attracted nearly 250 current or future suppliers, 90 in person and 150 virtually.
Participants were briefed on the two companies’ capabilities and the opportunities they envisage in tendering together for the Commonwealth’s Regional Maintenance Centre East (RMC East) to be established at Sydney’s Garden Island defence precinct.
The tender for RMC East was released on 11 May and closes on 16 September. Evaluations will be completed in the first quarter of 2023, contract signature is anticipated in quarter three, and a start to operations in mid-2024.
The four RMCs are described by Defence as platform-agnostic, integrated government and industry maintenance enterprises that will nationally coordinate maintenance and deliver it as regional hubs utilising common systems, standards and procedures.
The Cairns RMC opened in January, the Henderson RMC will begin operations later this year, and the Darwin RMC is expected to begin operations in 2023.
Craig Schwartz, Babcock’s Head of Customer Solutions (Defence and Security) said using the current supply chain and future solution providers would enable the two companies to deliver a superior and highly competitive solution to grow sovereign capability through RMP East.
A&P is the incumbent in-service support and sustainment contractor for the Landing Ship Dock HMAS Choules, on which it is currently delivering the largest vessel refit undertaken in Sydney in the past 15 years.
In March Babcock brought out its partner UGL in the Naval Ship Management Australia (NSM) joint venture and is supporting Anzac-class frigates, both Landing Helicopter Docks (LHDs), Light Landing Craft, and the entirety of the Royal New Zealand Navy’s surface ship fleet.
In announcing the RMC East, then Defence Minister Peter Dutton said the facility would initially support the three Hobart-class air warfare destroyers and HMAS Choules.
Additional Sydney-based capabilities including the two Canberra-class LHDs and their land crat, one Supply-class auxiliary oiler, and two Anzac-class frigates would also be considered for inclusion during the initial contract period, he said.