VLF Support Contract

⁠⁠⁠Support Services for a joint Australian/United States Defence communications facility located at North West Cape Defence Precinct, near Exmouth WA

Scope:

The purpose of this Statement of Work (SOW) is to state the Commonwealth requirements for work to be carried out under the Contract relating to the provision of Services in support of the Very Low Frequency (VLF) Broadcast Transmitter System’s Mission Systems and the attendant Support System located at North West Cape Defence Precinct (NWCDP) (the ‘Precinct’), and to allocate work responsibilities between the Commonwealth and the Contractor.

The Precinct contains a range of joint Australian / United States (US) Defence communications capabilities located at the tip of North West Cape in Western Australia. A key purpose of the VLF Broadcast Transmitter System (VLF BTS) is to provide communication services and support through the transmission of a VLF broadcast for communications to submarines for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), US Navy (USN), and allied countries. The VLF BTS is subject to a Treaty between the Australian and US

Governments. This Treaty and the associated implementation arrangements require consultation between Australia and the relevant US authorities on matters relating to the operation and support of the VLF BTS and the associated supporting elements.

The Precinct is a multi-user site, which is divided into three areas, as follows:

a. Area A – VLF transmitter site. Area A is situated on the northernmost tip of the peninsula known as North West Cape, and contains the VLF BTS Mission Systems, as well as the Petrol, Oil & Lubricants (POL) System and the Point Murat Navy Pier.

The VLF Transmitter and VLF Antenna Subsystems (including the antenna array) cover approximately 405 hectares. The antennas themselves are large spider webs of wire supported like an inverted top hat on 13 steel towers. The centre tower, Tower Zero, is one of the tallest man-made structures in the Southern Hemisphere, standing at 387 metres high.

b. Area B – Base administration & support facilities. Area B is situated approximately ten (10) kilometres south of Area A and includes the current management and administration office, maintenance workshop, fire station, warehouses, sewage treatment plant, Area B water treatment plant, other Precinct capabilities, and sundry other Facilities. Area B also includes other Precinct occupants, such as the space related capabilities.

c. Area C – High Frequency (HF) Receiver Site. Area C is situated approximately fifty (50) kilometres south of Area B and sixty (60) kilometres south of Area A (10 kilometres south of Learmonth airport) and covers approximately 3830 hectares.

Area C is included here for completeness, but there are no Services required to be provided to Area C.

Other Instructions:

Conditions for Participation:

As per Conditions of Tender

Timeframe for Delivery:

5 Years

Address for Lodgement:

Tender responses are to be submitted electronically via the AusTender website www.tenders.gov.au using the 'Lodgement Page' link on this tender notification.