30 July newsletter

The Northern Territory’s world-class training areas and ranges are being put to the test this dry season with several large-scale exercise either planned or underway.

Exercise Pitch Black 24 is the biggest in its history and is scheduled to continue until early August.  Fighter jets from around the world performed flypasts and displays coinciding with the regular Mindil Beach Markets on Thursday, 18 July as part of the exercise. More than 45 airframes took part, with US MV-22 Ospreys and the Italian Navy’s AV-8B Harriers conducting special displays.

Meanwhile, troops from Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Philippines have also started taking part in Exercise Predators Run; a littoral-focused, multilateral training exercise led by the Australian Army’s 1st Brigade.

Hundreds of vehicles have been geared up for the massive exercise, including protected mobility vehicles and light skinned vehicles which were seen strapped aboard heavy trucks destined for various training areas across the Top End.

Darwin locals should keep an eye out for Navy’s Exercise Kakadu, which is scheduled to commence over the coming weeks.

Charles Darwin University (CDU) will bring its strategic location and unique research capabilities to the table after becoming a member of QDSA (Queensland Defence Science Alliance), a node of the Australian Defence Science and Universities Network (ADSUN).

ADSUN brings together research institutes and industry to find solutions for defence problems. This new collaboration between CDU and QDSA makes ADSUN a truly national network with member universities in every state and territory across Australia.

Supported by the NT Government, CDU will complement QDSA with knowledge and research in areas relevant to Northern Australia such as tropical health, remote area drone operations and advanced manufacturing, and cyber security.

Australia’s conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine program is creating and delivering generational opportunities for Australians. The program requires both individuals and businesses to uplift this new sovereign industry to support the construction and sustainment of this critical capability. The Industry Capability Network (ICN) allows businesses to stay connected with the Australian Submarine Agency and be notified of opportunities.

Please register and maintain your details with the Industry Portal.

Lendlease “Try a Trade” event will be held on Thursday, 22 August at RAAF Base Tindal. The event is an opportunity to attract young students to the building and construction industry, while showcasing NT-based businesses and organisations to national contractors, defence industry VIPs and dignitaries, group training organisations and educational institutions.

The event is planned to coincide with the Big Rivers careers week at time when many of the schools are already in the area.  The Try a Trade Day will be held on the Workers Accommodation Village oval area and will run from 9am to 1pm and followed by a BBQ lunch with raffle draws and prizes.

Following on from the release of the Defence Industry Development Strategy earlier this year, the Defence Industry Development Grants Program will award grants over four years from 2024-25 to 2027-28. The objective of the program is to build the industrial base Australia needs to achieve Defence outcomes in areas of strategic priority.

The Defence Industry Development Grants Program funds four distinct grant opportunity streams tailored to address the program outcomes: The program has four streams:

• Sovereign industrial priorities
• Exports
• Security
• Skilling

For more information, visit business.gov.au.

The Darwin Innovation Hub is on the hunt this October for ground-breaking pitches that can bring significant benefits to Northern Australia. The stakes are high, with up to $1 million in venture capital up for grabs. You can pitch any innovation, product, or technology as long as it positively impacts Northern Australia.

Thanks to Croc Pitch’s virtual format, participants from around the globe can join in, attracting co-investors and fostering innovative partnerships. This presents a real opportunity for the Defence industry in the Territory with an innovative solution to operating in challenging conditions.

Up to $1,000,000 term sheet from Paspalis Innovation Investment Fund.*

Registrations open 1 August 2024. For more information, visit CROC PITCH 2024 - Darwin Innovation Hub

*Subject to agreed terms and due diligence

Help industry by taking this five- minute survey seeking collective, factual feedback and data where it counts.

One of the benefits of the Chamber of Commerce’s local business community is being part of a collective voice that helps industry to understand market conditions and challenges. As a result, the Chamber’s industry councils have created three surveys:

• MARITIME INDUSTRY COUNCIL - Understanding the market depth and breadth survey
• INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COUNCIL - Let's explore, grow and succeed survey
• MANUFACTURING - Local manufactured goods expansion, range and capability survey

If these surveys are relevant to your business/organisation, the Chamber invites you to provide your input to support your industry.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Australian service in Timor-Leste. When East Timor experienced a humanitarian and security crisis in 1999, Australia led a multinational peacekeeping force in response.

The International Force East Timor (INTERFET) and several United Nations (UN)-led missions assisted the country as it achieved independence and established itself as an independent and democratic country. Australia's deployment of troops to East Timor in 1999 was the largest since the Vietnam War. The Australian Defence Force had members in East Timor (now Timor-Leste) until 2013.

Locally, the occasion will be marked with a commemorative service.

• Where: Cenotaph, The Esplanade, Darwin
• When: 6pm for a 6.15pm sharp start. Friday, 20 September 2024.

This will be followed by a dinner for East Timor veterans only. Event and ticket details will be available on NTG social media. The Australia Government will also mark the occasion with a televised National Commemorative service to be broadcast on the ABC.

• Where: Australian Peacekeeping Memorial, Anzac Parade, Canberra
• When: 9.30am, Friday, 20 September 2024

You can register to attend this event or find out more information here.

You can read more about Australia’s involvement in Timor-Leste at the dva.gov.au website.

Base Services Transformation Program – Base Services Contact Centre

The Base Services Transformation program will encompass all of the Defence estate, including 70 major bases, 100-plus training ranges, more than 1000 leased or owned properties, and 30,000 built assets. Base services include cleaning, resource recovery and waste management land management, hospitality and catering, transport, base security, and estate maintenance services. Defence is designing the next generation of contracts through the Base Services Transformation (BST) Program, which are expected to commence transition in early 2025.

Current ATM View - NOT/SEG/BSTP/2024/1C: AusTender (tenders.gov.au)

Indo-Pacific Multiple Award Construction Contract for Projects in the NAVFAC Pacific Area of Operations

Construction services are required for an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) type multiple award construction contract (MACC) to support the Pacific Deterrence Initiative program with the Exercise Related Construction (ERC), Unspecified Minor Military Construction (UMMC), US Code Title 10 Security Cooperation and other repair projects in the NAVFAC Pacific area of operations.  It is anticipated that this MACC may include projects in Caroline Islands, Philippines, Northern Territory Australia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Fiji, Maldives, and other areas under NAVFAC Pacific cognizance.

SAM.gov website

Enhanced Aerial Surveillance Program

Defence recently provided an industry update on the Pacific Maritime Security Program (PMSP), Aerial Surveillance Program. A $2.5 billion commitment over 30 years, it is the cornerstone of Australia’s defence engagement with the Pacific. The tender for the Non-military Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles has now closed. The tender for the Fixed-Wing Aerial Surveillance Services contract is expected to be released in Q3/4 2024.

For more information, visit the tenders.gov.au website

Projects in contract

• Darwin Ship Lift Project
• EST00346 Tindal Redevelopment / EST00347 KC-30A   Facilities
• RAAF Darwin Refresh Program
• USFPI Northern Territory Training Areas & Ranges   Project
• PAF160700 Squadron Operations Facility, Royal Australian   Air Force Base Darwin
• PAF180700 Squadron Operations Facility, Royal   Australian Air Force Base Tindal

Rail Transport Services Standing Offer

The Commonwealth is seeking to establish a Panel to provide the Commonwealth of Australia with rail transport services.

Strategic requirements under this Panel are likely to be in support of annual or biennial military exercises, operations, and disaster recovery within Australia. Contractors engaged under this Panel would be tasked with the movement of Australian Defence Force and other Commonwealth cargo and passengers on an irregular basis, which may include heavy vehicles, equipment, stores, and fuel and up to 450 personnel in any one journey.

Current ATM View - 41943: AusTender (tenders.gov.au)

Road Transport Services Standing Offer

The Commonwealth is seeking to establish a Panel to provide the Commonwealth of Australia with additional and surge capacity and capability for the movement of cargo by road. Strategic requirements to support annual or biennial military exercises may necessitate an increase in the amount of cargo to be transported in a single movement. Contractors engaged under this Panel would be tasked with the movement of Australian Defence Force and other Commonwealth stores and equipment by road. This may include complex and/or short notice tasking requirements. The transportation of personnel over large distance to support exercises and operations may also be required.

Current ATM View - 41942: AusTender (tenders.gov.au)

Planned Procurement Notice - Defence Infrastructure Panel – Major Construction 2025 – 2030

This is a pre-release notice only to provide advance notification that the Department of Defence anticipates that it will commence a single stage, open tender process in July 2024 for the appointment of contractors to the Defence Infrastructure Panel – Major Construction 2025 – 2030 (Panel).

Current ATM View - AZ6536: AusTender (tenders.gov.au)

Defence Search and Rescue Services Contract

This notice informs industry of a potential upcoming Request for Tender seeking the provision of Defence Search and Rescue Services (DSARS).

Current ATM View - JASD/NOT/20200/5: AusTender (tenders.gov.au)

Design Services Market Sounding Process – Defence Capital Works Projects

The Department of Defence is inviting participation in a market sounding process for design services for anticipated works in response to the Defence Strategic Review. The scope includes:

• Roads, car parking, hardstands, pavements, and taxiways
• Replacement of existing office accommodation, living-in accommodation, range control facilities, etc.
• Large-scale civil/range systems
• Ancillary external facilities
• External infrastructure (above and below ground)

For more information and to submit your response, visit tenders.gov.au website.

BAE Systems Global Access Program

BAE Systems encourages you to get in touch if you believe your company can add value to its supply chain. For more information, visit BAE Global Access Program