Small British businesses are to benefit from a new warship and
submarine agreement, Defence Minister has announced today.
The agreement, which will enhance economic growth across the UK,
will also boost overall availability of the UK's warships and
submarines. It will see far greater access from the Ministry of
Defence directly to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs),
allowing them to bid for work under a seven-year framework worth
up to £850 million.
The Marine Systems Transformation (MaST) programme delivers
support and spares to non-combat equipment aboard UK warships and
submarines, covering 180,000 different items from propulsion
systems to galley equipment.
Across the framework, between a third and half of the suppliers
are based outside the south of England with the majority being
Midlands or North of England-based, and additional suppliers
based in Scotland and Wales.
Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, said:
The spares and repairs that keep our warships submarines at sea
are critical, and this agreement will ensure that more
British small businesses – from Southampton to Aberdeen - will be
at the heart of supporting the Royal Navy.
By backing our defence industry, we will keep the nation safe and
support more than 200,000 jobs.
Today's changes open the market for 39 companies to bid for work
through Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) - the MOD's
procurement arm. Greater warship and submarine availability will
be delivered through:
-
Improved access to spare parts, both for planned and
unplanned maintenance;
-
Access to specialist equipment-related technical advice and
expertise globally; and
-
Reductions in cost without compromising safety or
availability.
The Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, , announced the new agreement on
a visit in Birmingham, to Somers Forge – manufacturer of bespoke
naval parts and one of several businesses based in the Midlands
that can bid for work under the new framework.
Managing Director of Somers Forge, Samson Folkes
said:
Being selected for the MAST framework represents a huge
opportunity for our business. We have been
a defence supplier since 1912 and are incredibly proud
of our heritage supporting the Royal Navy. For Somers Forge,
winning contracts through MAST can help us sustain vital jobs and
apprenticeships in the Midlands as well as underpin our growth
ambitions.
MaST allows direct access to SME suppliers to deliver value for
money for the taxpayer and to drive economic growth through
defence industry organisations of all sizes across the
UK.
Toni Gray, Navy Acquisition, Equipment Support Programmes
Director, said:
The MaST frameworks will deliver vital spares, repairs and post
design services to support the Royal Navy's fleet of ships and
submarines. The frameworks will widen our market, enable us to
contract direct to SMEs, and critically, offer never seen before
levels of customer choice to how we sustain our key equipment's.
Dr Simon Dakin, DG – Core at DE&S, said:
The MaST frameworks are a game-changer to spares procurement and
in service support to Royal Navy warships and submarines. It
brings the agility to respond to increasingly uncertain world
events and meet a demanding operational schedule while driving
value for money in our procurement approach to the goods and
services that we just need to deliver repeatably, cost
effectively and well.
