Defence Headquarters prime systems integrator contract awarded

Another significant milestone towards the completion of the new purpose-built $300 million Headquarters Joint Operations Command (HQJOC) facility near Bungendore, NSW, has been achieved today with the signing of the integrated systems contract.

Following an extensive evaluation process, Defence has selected ADI Limited (trading as Thales Australia) as the contractor to deliver the integrated suite of command, control, communications, computing and intelligence (C4I) systems for their new headquarters. The value of the contract will be up to $58.5 million.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Senator Sandy Macdonald said ADI Limited was one of five companies short listed in August this year. The other companies were BAE Systems Australia, KAZ Technology Services Pty Ltd, Raytheon Australia Pty Ltd and RLM Systems Pty Ltd.

“I congratulate ADI Limited on being selected to undertake this unique and exciting role to deliver a complex capability that will form the essential IT “hub” for the new HQJOC facility,” Senator Macdonald said.

“ADI Limited will be responsible for the design, build and test of the C4I systems required to support the headquarters.  The majority of the systems will be built and tested off-site in the period leading up to the headquarters being completed in July 2008.  The C4I systems will then be installed in time for Defence staff to commence stepping up in late 2008,” he said.

Praeco Pty Ltd, a consortium comprising Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd and ABM AMRO Australian Limited, will deliver the new facility and then provide a range of support services under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) financing arrangement over a 30 year contract term.

In late 2005, the Queanbeyan-based Codarra Advanced Systems won a three-year, $7 million contract to provide project management and systems engineering services to assist Defence in delivery of the C4I systems into the facility, and has been instrumental in bringing the C4I contract to fruition.

Since Prime Minister John Howard turned the first sod at the Headquarters site on 3 November, construction work is progressing on the primary access road and large intersection linking the facility with the Kings Highway.  The headquarters design process is now well advanced.

“I am impressed with the progress being achieved for this vital project, which will provide Defence with its first fully integrated, state-of-the-art command and control headquarters,” Senator Macdonald said.

Media information:

Media Adviser: Rachel Kingsford Smith 0408 019 537

Defence Media Contact: (02) 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664