Latest Defence News from ADA-Vic

Hi there,

Wow, what a week!

I'm sure there were many sighs of relief when the US presidential election was called earlier this week, despite the continued drama.

There have been some amazing opportunities created for the benefit of the defence industry this year, despite the chaos COVID-19.

The year's events could never have been foreseen, however it was fitting having the iWar2019 conference as a pre-cursor to how this year has developed. One such industry opportunity is coming up on Thursday 19th November when ADA-Vic in partnership with Lockheed Martin Australia and Leidos have a live "Pitch a Prime" event, with a focus on Cyber Security Technology. This event has been scheduled and planned to allow SME cyber security vendors the opportunity to pitch directly to two Industry Primes, see more here or below.

Feedback Required on ReSET panel:

ADA-Vic is aware of some concerns within our membership base related to Defence procurement strategy for External Services Providers. A number of ADA-Vic members have raised their concerns about the future of the DST ReSET panel. This panel is scheduled to expire on 29 March 2021 and has no extension options; though many of the skillsets are able to be procured via the existing DSS panel or through the Engineering Services contract (with Qinetiq). If you are a member of the ReSET panel and are concerned about the impact this expiration may have on your company, please get in touch via info@australiandefencealliance.org.au if this impacts your business.

ADA-Vic advocates on behalf of it's members to shape sustainable outcomes for all stakeholders.

Reach out today, to see how ADA-Vic can enable you to do Better Business in Defence.

From the Government

Governor of Victoria Export Awards, nominations close 13th Nov, more here
Prime Ministers Veterans Employment Awards, nominations close 20th Nov, more here
Government promotes Moon to Mars with more Grants, more here, here & here
2021 Budget Measures and Support for Defence Industry from Morrison Government, more here
Easing of grant funding rules, making funding opportunities more accessible to all, more here
Intelligence & National Security Threat Research Funding Grants = Open, more here
ASBAS - Funding to Get Professional Advice for updating your business, more here
Skilling Australia's Defence Industry (SADI) Grants "Open for Applications", more here
Cyber defence & security innovation (ICERA) Grants for SMEs, more here
Austrade Export and Investment Awards = Open for Nominations, more here
The New Budget - for defence industry here & also holistically for business and employment here
The Navy RAS + AI Strategy 2040 has been released, more here
Mapping Australia's Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Autonomous Systems Capability, survey here
The Defence Industry Minister has released an Op-Ed on supporting defence industry, more here

Industry Opportunities

Defence seeks experienced satellite mission integrator for Defence Science and Technology (DST) project, Industry briefing about EOI here
ASPI unveils Submarine report, a deep dive into the Australian submarine program, more here
Secure 'Common User Facility' has been setup in Victoria, FREE until Feb. 2021, more below
Naval Group - New Work Packages (some packages up to $900M), EOI portal here
Leidos calls for Industry participation in SEA 129 Phase 5 project, portal here
Lockheed Martin calls for EOI for their 'Missile and Fire Control', portal here
Northrop Grumman calls for EOI for their 'Space Systems Project', portal here
Hanwha opens the doors to Australian supply chain, more info here, sign-up portal here
ASC P/L calls for industry to be part of submarine sustainment program, portal here
BAE Systems calls for industry participation for their Global Access Program, portal here

Industry Events

16th Nov. Strategic Update & Force Structure Plan 2020 with the Australian British Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) & Minister for Defence, more here
16th Nov. WorkSafe Vic, 'Creating a mentally healthy workplace in manufacturing', more here
17th Nov. Shaping Australia's Economic Recovery with the Australian British Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) & Chairman of the National COVID-19 Commission, more here
19th Nov. Lockheed Martin Space Briefing 2020, more here
19th Nov. Our next event = Pitch a Prime, with Cyber Security Technology, more here
24th Nov. German-Australian Chamber of Industry & Commerce Maritime conference, more here
25th Nov. WorkSafe Vic, 'Creating a mentally healthy workplace in construction', more here
26th Nov. Foreign Interference and the Implications for Universities and Industry, more here
30th Nov - 4th Dec. Virtual I/ITSEC 2020, Team Defence Australia EOI open on ICN, more here
1-3 Dec. Virtual TechNet Cyber, Team Defence Australia EOI open on ICN, more here
21-25th Feb. 2021 IDEX - ABU Dhabi, Team Defence Australia EOI open on ICN, more here
CDIC - "Defence Industry Insights" webinar series has been recorded and is available, more here

From Defence:

New Payment Times Reporting Scheme to help SMEs get paid in a timely manner, more here
COVID Response Taskforce develops 'Personal Protective Equipment Buyers Guide', more here
Minister Price announces changes to defence industry support grants.
Team Defence Australia EOI’s on the Australian Defence Export Office ICN page IDEX – Abu Dhabi (21-25 February 2020) EOI’s close 4 December 2020

§ Attendance at IDEX will be dependent on the COVID-19 pandemic. TDA expect to make a decision on attendance by 20 December 2020. All EOIs must be received via ICN by the closing date’s with the appropriate Defence Export Controls documentation attached to be eligible to participate with Team Defence Australia at these event.

The Minister for Defence Industry has provided a summary of support available to defence industry, see more here
Head of Land Capability advises Army's decision to postpone the conduct of a Land Environment Working Group (LEWG) until second quarter, 2021, more here

Other News:

The Victorian Defence Industry Advocate (VDIA) speaks to the Geelong Advertiser about Hanwha moving in to Geelong, more here

RUAG secures a contract to support the US Navy’s SH-60B Seahawk helicopters
Defence Science Institute has links to several opportunities, more here
Grollo Aerospace has developed a supersonic training target missile, the EVADER.
Attached is Moonshot’s space industry update.
News from the Australian Space Agency:

Moon to Mars Demonstrator Grants
Supply chain capability improvement grants.

Textron is one of two companies reportedly shortlisted for Land 29 Phase 3.
Air Fab secures a contract to supply safety stands to the RAAF.

Secure Common User Facility
for Victoria

Located in the Melbourne CBD, the Victorian Common User Facility (VCUF) allows appropriately-cleared personnel to access Defence secure networks, and provides secure offices and work areas for undertaking limited-duration activities such as meetings, bid preparation, and small-scale experiments.

The VCUF is an initiative to facilitate enhanced engagement by Victorian businesses and the innovation community with Defence and National Security programs. This unique facility is the first of its type in Australia.

The facility has reached Initial Operating Capability, and is now available for use by Victorian businesses.

Normally, access to the facilities is on an annual subscription basis, however due to the current COVID-19 restrictions the facility is being made available free of charge until February 2021, as a measure to assist Victorian industry recover during these challenging times.

This is an outstanding offer that stands to significantly add value and capabilities to SME needing access to secure collaboration facilities.

For enquiries regarding use of the facility, please contact us info@australiandefencealliance.org.au

In the first of many local packages to be offered throughout the life of the 50-year program, these specialised pieces of equipment include the steering gear system, weapons handling system and main shaft line, and will support hundreds of Australian jobs.

Naval Group has officially launched its first ‘Local Manufacturing Package’ expression of interest (EOI) to Australian industry – part of a package expected to be worth almost $900 million, with the company also opening its office at Port Adelaide.

EOI portal here

Defence is invested in SMEs skilling up and working more closely with Industry Primes (how a majority of work packages are undertaken by SMEs).

In this next event hosted by ADA-Vic, in partnership with VDA, Lockheed Martin Australia and Leidos allow SMEs to "Pitch" their amazing capabilities to them live!

Please nominate a representative from your company to present at the session, if interested, by emailing info@australiandefencealliances.org.au by COB Monday 14th November.

This event continues our series of prime supply chain presentations as many industry opportunities will have SMEs engaging with primes to undertake major capabilities. Chris Hess from Lockheed Martin and Paul Chase from Leidos will also provide updates on how to engage with their respective companies.

The event will start at 1300 and through to 1500. Successful nominees to pitch at the event will be notified by Wednesday 17th November.

We look forward to seeing you virtually next week on the 19th.

Two webinars for leaders in the manufacturing and construction industries hosted by mental health advocate Graeme Cowan focusing on creating a mentally healthy workplace.

Graeme helps leaders and teams to be more caring, resilient, and growth-oriented. In his earlier career he worked in senior leadership positions with Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, and AT Kearney. In 2000 he went through a 5 year episode of depression that his psychiatrist described as the worst he had ever treated. He emerged from this crisis with a different view about how we can increase our resilience, mood, and performance. He is described by the Australian Financial Review as a “workplace resilience expert”. He is the author of 4 books, including the internationally acclaimed BACK FROM THE BRINK, which has a testimonial from the former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, and which has just become a best seller in China. Graeme is an active Board Director of R U OK?

#1 Creating a mentally healthy workplace in the
manufacturing industry

November 16th, 2020 01:00 PM Register Here

#2 Creating a mentally healthy workplace in the
construction industry

November 25th, 2020 01:00 PM Register Here

RMIT University's Sir Lawrence Wackett Centre (SLWC) is delighted to invite you to hear Mr. Jerome Mullan (Director of Operations, Protegas Australia and former Major in the Australian Army Intelligence) speak about the issues of foreign interference and the implications for universities and industry.

The webinar will explore the threat facing Australia as changes in technology enable malign actors to target universities and industry, their IP, staff and infrastructure.

more information and Registration Here

Contact: jovanka.zimpel@rmit.edu.au