Babcock Australasia (Babcock) and Atlantic & Peninsula Australia (A&P) have partnered to respond to the Commonwealth’s Request For Tender for the Regional Maintenance Provider East (RMP-E) to provide fleet maritime sustainment services under Plan Galileo.
In May this year, both companies agreed to explore opportunities to collaborate on maritime sustainment on the east coast of Australia. RMP-E is the first of what both companies hope will be many more. The partnership was formalised today, outlining how both companies will work together to provide critical and high-value services as the Regional Maintenance Provider East.
As Team Bower, the partnership capitalises on the combined experience and stewardship of a significant portion of Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) ships at the Garden Island Defence Precinct in Sydney.
Babcock’s Managing Director – Defence, Andy Davis said the partnership will bring together the strength of both Babcock and A&P under an affordable ‘one lanyard’ approach, benefitting both the Commonwealth and supply chain partners.
“Team Bower’s solution will deliver a superior and highly competitive solution that has lower transition risks and allows the Team to grow sovereign capability. Keeping RAN ships ready to fight and win at sea and deploying their critical capability where it is needed,” said Mr Davis.
“The Team Bower identity has multiple elements that when combined, reflect our services to the Commonwealth, teaming and values. The stockless bower anchor is perhaps the most iconic of maritime symbols with the port and starboard anchors reflecting the partnership of our two companies working together to deliver for the Commonwealth and industry.
“The regional importance of the services is also reflected in the satin bowerbird that is endemic to eastern Australia. Satin bowerbirds are renowned for the care with which they create and maintain their bowers. They are emblematic of our commitment to stewarding sovereign sustainment capability at the Garden Island Defence Precinct,” said Mr Davis.
The announcement follows the recent Maritime Industry Day in Sydney during which Babcock and A&P engaged with almost 300 current and future suppliers. The event highlighted the RMP-E opportunity and how local industry can support Team Bower’s solution.
“Our offering builds on the existing capability of both companies to ensure RMP-E is not a stand-alone program but is also connected to both Babcock and A&P’s broader local, regional and international capabilities as well as the other Regional Maintenance Centres being established across Australia,” said Mr Davis.
David McGinley, CEO of Atlantic and Peninsula Marine Services, said the new agreement will enable Defence to draw upon the expertise of two of the world’s leading maritime defence companies, drawing upon their skills, capabilities and global experience to support Defence’s objective of ensuring the continuous sustainment of the Royal Australian Navy.
“Babcock and A&P’s proven track record and experience will enable Australia to continue the development of an in-country supply chain and defence capabilities, which will ultimately de-risk future deployments of Navy assets in the region and underpin the availability of the Royal Australian Naval fleet.”
A&P Australia’s Managing Director, Scott Willey said, “The partnership creates a pathway for our collective businesses to optimise the delivery of maritime sustainment for Navy though our combined capabilities and supply chain.
“Our partnership reiterates Babcock and A&P’s collective commitment to work with wider industry to provide high-value and low-risk outcomes, distributing economic benefits across the wider supply chain and underpinning the future security of both industry and Defence.
“By working together, Team Bower will support small to medium enterprises and Primes in their continued delivery of services to the Royal Australian Navy. Through commonality of process and practice, we will simplify and enhance opportunities for local industry.”
The Team Bower partnership builds on the existing relationships internationally, where Babcock and A&P support complex maritime sustainment programs across multiple dockyards in the United Kingdom.
