The US Navy is seeking Australian companies that can form Contractor Field Teams (CFT) to perform In-Service Repairs (ISR) for US Navy and US Marine Corps aircraft in Australia.
US Navy Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) released an updated sources sought notice on 16 October. The document is not a formal request for product and is instead aimed at gathering information about companies that are willing and able to undertake CFT work.
It covers a variety of aircraft types, including C-130, F/A-18, and V-22 variants, as well as UH-1Y, AH-1Z, CH-53, MH-53, and H-60 series helicopters.
NAVSUP anticipates a need for between 5 and 20 CFT callouts annually, some of which must be responded to within 12 hours. Those callouts would be to conduct various work, ranging from depot-level aircraft maintenance to line maintenance and logistics support.
The US Marine Corps has increased the size and duration of its rotational deployments to Australia in recent years. MV-22s, UH-1Y, AH-1Z, and other Marine Corps aircraft now regularly stage out of RAAF Base Darwin during Marine Rotational Force - Darwin rotations.