BAE subsidiary ASC Shipbuilding to host procurement update ahead of early work on frigates program

Representatives from more than 150 businesses from around the country will converge in Adelaide on Tuesday to learn about how to tap into $20 million in contracts on offer as part of the initial stages of the $35 billion Hunter Class frigate program.

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Representatives from more than 150 businesses from around the country will converge in Adelaide on Tuesday to learn about how to tap into $20 million in contracts on offer as part of the initial stages of the $35 billion Hunter Class frigate program.

Businesses that supply equipment and services, from scaffolding and pipes to deck coverings and insulation, will attend the procurement update, launching a process to bid for work during the Hunter program’s prototyping phase which commences next year.

During the prototyping phase, due to begin in December 2020, five prototyping blocks will be built at the Osborne naval shipyard.

ASC Shipbuilding managing director Craig Lockhart

ASC Shipbuilding managing director Craig Lockhart said the Hunter program was committed to maximising opportunities for Australian suppliers through supply contracts and initiatives to grow local small-to-medium sized businesses.

“The procurement update is not just an information session – this is a genuine opportunity for our team to help Australian businesses bid for upcoming contracts to supply equipment and materials for the prototyping blocks, like scaffolding, pipes, steel, deck coverings, cables and insulation, as well as services, like outfitting and painting,” he said.

“We are raising the Australian defence industry’s ability to compete for and win domestic and international maritime work. That’s one of our strategies and commitments to building a world-class, sovereign capability for continuous naval shipbuilding for this country.”

As part of the prototyping phase, businesses can bid for $20 million in contracts across two supplier categories.

In one of those categories, known as “category D”, the Hunter program is committed to using 100 per cent Australian suppliers.

As part of the prototyping phase, processes, systems, tools, facilities and workforce competencies will be tested and refined before construction on the first frigate commences in 2022.

The Hunter program is the biggest surface ship project in Australia’s defence history, set to deliver nine anti-submarine warfare frigates to the Royal Australian Navy.

More than 800 businesses across Australia and New Zealand have already pre-qualified to work on the program.

Tuesday’s procurement update will be held at the National Wine Centre, with guests including Defence Teaming Centre, Industry Capability Network and Indigenous Defence and Infrastructure Consortium.

Suppliers can register their interest in working on the Hunter program by visiting: www.icn.org.au