ISSUE THREE 2013
For subscription & feedback please email: soldier.systems@defence.gov.au
DEFENCE CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT NEWSLETTER FOR INDUSTRY
CONTACTS
GROUP EMAILS:
soldier.systems@defence.gov.au
diggerworks@defence.gov.au
ARMAMENTS SPO
DIRECTOR
Mr Malcolm McKeith
(03) 9282 5982
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
Mr Andrew Kerley
(03) 9282 3836
CLOTHING SPO
DIRECTOR
Colonel Haydn Kohl
(03) 9282 4464
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
Dr Simon Atyeo
(03) 9282 5511
SOLDIER
MODERNISATION SPO
DIRECTOR
Mr David O’Brien
(03) 9282 3725
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
Mrs Emma Enever
(03) 9282 5603
DIGGERWORKS
DIRECTOR
Colonel Mark Jennings
(03) 9282 4312
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
Mr Darryl Kewin
(03) 9282 4594
STRATEGIC
COMMUNICATIONS AND
INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT
SOLDIER COMBAT ENSEMBLE LOAD
CARRIAGE ELEMENTS USER TRIAL
Project LAND 125 Phase 3B’s Soldier Combat Ensemble Load Carriage Elements (SCE–
LCE) tender recently achieved a significant milestone with the completion of almost two
months of user trials by members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
As part of the SCE–LCE tender assessment process, tendered packs were trialled by soldiers
from 3 Brigade in Townsville and 1 Brigade in Adelaide. The trials took six weeks to complete,
and were run by a combined team comprising members from Project LAND 125 Phase 3B,
the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) and the Australian Defence Test &
Evaluation Office.
Soldiers participated in a range of mission-specific tasks while wearing the tendered packs,
including pack marches, fire-and-movement drills and urban clearance operation simulations.
The same drills were conducted in both Townsville and Adelaide, ensuring the packs were
used as realistically as possible while still providing the quality, repeatable data needed for
tender assessment.
By using soldiers from multiple units, the LAND 125 Phase 3B project team was able
to collect more comprehensive data and inclusive feedback on the prospective packs.
The soldiers involved in the trial were drawn from multiple job roles and a broad range of
experience. Conducting the trial in mid-winter in Adelaide and through the dry season in
Townsville also enabled the team to consider performance in different climates.
The DSTO has started the process of analysing the results of the trial. This process will take
approximately three months, with a team from Human Performance Division working through the
hundreds of survey responses.
The LAND 125 Phase 3B project team had to coordinate trial timings around the demands
of the recent large-scale Army Exercise TALISMAN SABRE. This enabled a large number of
soldiers to be involved in the tender assessment process, which in turn enabled the project
to achieve a more robust assessment directly informed by the users.
With the user trial complete, the SCE–LCE tender is scheduled for source selection
and contract negotiations in early 2014. Contract signature is expected to occur in mid
to late 2014.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
Ms Lauren Bradley
(03) 9282 7045
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
Ms Reahn Aitchison
(03) 9282 6481
Existing load carriage elements, such as those being used here in Afghanistan, will be replaced as a result of the
SCE-LCE tender process.
DMO PURPOSE | Equip and Sustain the Australian Defence Force
DIGGERWORKS
CERTIFIED AS
AN ACCREDITED
ENGINEERING
ORGANISATION
Diggerworks recently achieved
certification as an Accredited
Engineering Organisation, formally
presented by Colonel (COL) Nick
Stanton, Director of Technical
Regulation – Army. The Directorate of
Technical Regulation – Army provides
all Commanders, in particular the Chief
of Army, with an assurance that land
materiel is fit for service, safe
and environmentally compliant.
Accredited Engineering Organisation
certification is a significant milestone
for Diggerworks, enabling the provision
of technical services compliant with
ADF requirements.
COL Nick Stanton, Director of Technical
Regulation – Army, presents the certification to
COL Mark Jennings, Director Diggerworks.
UPCOMING TENDERS
The Integrated Soldier Systems Procurement Plan (ISSPP) identifies tender
opportunities for industry across a range of clothing, armaments and personal
equipment items.
The ISSPP is a guide to what is planned. Please ensure you continue to check
www.austender.gov.au for official tender dates and information. The following is a
summary of tenders scheduled for release as part of the ISSPP;
OPEN TENDERS
ITEM
RFT CLOSING DATE
Wet and Foul Weather Ensembles
13 November 2013
UPCOMING TENDERS
ITEM
SCHEDULED
RELEASE PERIOD
Anti Flash Hoods, Gloves and Fire-Fighters Hoods
October 2013 (RFI only)
Tiered Combat Helmet
By the end of 2013
Combat Hearing Protection
By the end of 2013
Embroidered Insignia
November 2013
This information should be used as a guide only. Updates and changes to tender
dates and information can be found by following this link - Integrated Soldier
Systems Procurement Plan 2013 – 2015.
ISSB INDUSTRY FORUM
The next Integrated Soldier Systems Branch (ISSB) Industry Forum is scheduled for Thursday 7 November 2013 at
CQ Functions in Melbourne CBD. Registrations for this event have now closed.
A number of presentations from both industry and internal to defence will be delivered, in conjunction with a small expo. The expo will
incorporate Federal and State Government agencies, industry groups and members of industry who will showcase services that may
be beneficial to attendees.
In addition to the forum a selection of ISSB staff will be available to conduct meetings with interested suppliers following the forum. If
you have registered for the forum and are interested in arranging a subsequent meeting please contact the relevant unit by following
these links;
CLOSPO | ARMTSPO | SMSPO | Diggerworks
Thank you to those that have registered. Please ensure you bring along your registration details to the event for registration between
8.30 – 9.00am.
We look forward to seeing you at the forum.
TOM THE TOP ENGINEER
TENDER
DEBRIEFING
There is often a considerable
investment made by suppliers when
responding to Defence tenders and
tenderers are entitled to know how
their tender was evaluated, what the
assessed strengths and weaknesses
of their tender were, and why it was, or
was not, successful.
Defence must include advice to tenderers
that they may seek a debriefing and must
promptly inform unsuccessful tenderers
once a selection decision has been made.
This notification does not include provision
for a debriefing at this stage; however, the
notice will contain instructions on how to
arrange for a debriefing to occur.
The purpose of these debriefings is to
outline the reasons a submission was
unsuccessful. Debriefings are also offered
to the successful supplier(s). Debriefings
are designed to provide information on
the outcome of Defence’s evaluation of
the tender and should not be seen as
an opportunity to re-open or enter into
debate on the evaluation or its outcomes.
Debriefing discussions cannot impact
on, nor affect, the outcome of the
procurement process. For this reason
debriefings usually occur after a contract
has been signed.
Tom Morley, winner of the DMO Young Engineer of the Year Award.
Land Engineering Agency (LEA) engineers are working within the ISSB to ensure that
clothing, personal equipment and armaments are of the highest possible standard for
the men and women of the ADF. The engineers also work to ensure that specifications
are drafted correctly to ensure that the ADF obtains a product from industry that
meets their requirements, complies with appropriate standards, and is safe for use.
The LEA has a number of qualified and experienced engineers working within the ISSB.
As a testament to the high standard of engineering expertise within the branch, a young
engineer from the Soldier Modernisation Systems Program Office recently won the Defence
Materiel Organisation (DMO) Young Engineer of the Year Award.
Tom Morley was tasked to develop the Tender Specification for the Protection Element
(Body Armour) for LAND 125 Phase 3B, compatible with the new evolutionary acquisition
approach. Tom was set the challenge of developing a new specification with requirements
not previously utilised in body armour acquisitions including designs for both male and
female body shapes; test protocols and procedures from the newly-developed ADF Body
Armour Standard; components to integrate with Tiered Body Armour System carriers; and
contractual design changes over the life of the armour.
To ensure the specification was developed to a practicable standard, Tom enlisted
the assistance of industry by releasing an initial Function and Performance Specification
(FPS) as an exposure draft for feedback. Tom’s approach also ensured that the testing
requirements covered safety and performance requirements while minimising the cost
of tendering for industry. The concise and clear FPS developed by Tom have allowed
industry to subsequently respond to the Request for Tender in a rigorous and timely
manner.
Through the development of an effective specification, Tom was able to deliver the following
improvements: a Body Armour system capable of protecting against all required threats;
an armour system capable of undergoing continual design changes; and an armour system
designed to fit both male and female forms.
It was a great effort by Tom, and his Young Engineer of the Year Award was highly deserved.
Debriefings are a great opportunity
for Defence to provide tenderers with
feedback on their tender and for suppliers
to obtain insights into what might be
improved for future tenders, as well as the
strengths and weaknesses of their offer.
In seeking to understand the success or
otherwise of their submissions, suppliers
are often reminded that commercial
sensitivities and confidentiality obligations
may place restrictions on what can be
said during the debriefing. For example,
no details of the successful tenderer’s
pricing, including individual prices
tendered for line items, are revealed.
The Austender website is used to notify
the results of tenders, once a contract is
awarded.
A consistent message to all tenderers is
that they should support their submission
with a full explanation and evidence as
to why it is the best solution. Providing
a greater level of detail ensures that
Defence is fully informed of the full value,
compliance and risk associated with a
solution.
Remember, the invitation to attend a
debriefing is a genuine offer by Defence.
We want tenderers to understand where
their strengths and weaknesses lie so that
they can utilise this information to improve
on future tenders.