UK MoD: EOI for Project Marshall military air traffic services
LM, Selex SI and Cobham, Raytheon and Serco are teaming for the 1.7 Billion Euro Prorgam –
UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has called for expressions of interest (EOI) for a service provider for Project Marshall, a public-private partnership programme to be in place by late 2013.
The winning contractor will provide support for UK military air traffic services, including communications, surveillance and navigation systems at British bases in the UK, Gibraltar, Cyprus and the Falklands, and on deployed operations.
The 22-year contract is valued at £1.5 billion (US$2.4 billion), and does not involve the provision of air traffic control itself, according to a DefenseNews report.
UK air traffic control equipment currently serves more than 100 sites, a number that is likely to shrink if the MoD’s plans to close a number of Royal Air Force bases due to capability losses and severe budget cuts go ahead.
The MoD is planning to issue an invitation to tender to at least three down-selected contractors by the end of September 2011, following a prequalification questionnaire.
Project MARSHALL is the key Air Traffic Management programme for the Ministry of Defence (MOD) as it will provide the capability to support UK military flying and air deployed operations for the long term.
These Air Traffic Services will provide air traffic control and air traffic management for all of the MOD’s aerodromes and air weapon ranges both in the UK and overseas including those used for current operations. It will also ensure that the MOD complies with the legal requirements of managing an air traffic service and enable the safe operation of its aerial platforms. Project MARSHALL will be a “managed service” spanning 22 years which will deliver savings over the lifetime of the programme through improved efficiencies, scale and innovation and the delivery and management of network-based services, applications, equipment and training in MOD military airfields and for deployed operations.
Project MARSHALL will enable the MOD to continue to conduct flying operations and provide the necessary contribution to the protection of UK sovereign airspace including support to counter terrorism
Project Marshall was previously known as the Joint Military Air Traffic Services project
In UK the MOD owns, operates and maintains a broad spectrum of equipment to provide Air Traffic Management (ATM) services at its airfields, weapons ranges and exercise areas, both in country and overseas.
These encompass surveillance radars, navigation aids, landing aids, communications equipment and other elements that contribute to the overall provision of the ATM capability.
Studies in 2004 revealed that much of this equipment is approaching obsolescence and that significant capital expenditure will be needed to sustain the capability for the future.
The Joint Military Air Traffic Services (JMATS) project was initiated in November 2005 to identify and evaluate options for the future delivery of the military Terminal ATM capability. Early discussions with Industry indicated much support for a service based solution and a belief that there were significant opportunities to deliver a more coherent and cost effective solution.
In January 2008 Minister for Defence Equipment & Support (Min (DES)) and the Investment Approvals Board have approved the JMATS Initial Gate Business Case. The Assessment Phase is now underway evaluating a range of Partnering options. PFI will no longer be considered as a procurement option for JMATS.
Two teams will answer to the MARSHALL Bid
LM, Selex SI and Cobham Team
Lockheed Martin, Finmeccanica – through its UK company SELEX Systems Integration – and Cobham have signed an agreement to form Fusion Air Traffic Management, which will address Project MARSHALL – formerly known as the Joint Military Air Traffic Services (JMATS) programme.
The three team members have unparalleled track records in large-scale service delivery, programme management, systems integration and long-term support for Air Traffic Services.
Together, the Fusion team offers a proven capability to deliver the optimum approach, solution and underlying values to fulfil the programme effectively.
Lockheed Martin UK Chief Executive Stephen Ball said: “The team name Fusion was chosen to reflect the very best of each of the three organisations for the benefit of the MOD. We believe that together we are best placed to understand the technical complexities and commercial challenges of the programme and then reliably deliver safe and innovative solutions that will add real value.”
SELEX Systems Integration Chief Executive Michael Clayforth-Carr added: “All three companies have significant current military and civil air traffic control business in the UK and around the world. We fully understand the technological requirements and the attendant service delivery challenge and are all operating successfully within the MOD’s current contractual environment.”
Cobham UK Managing Director of Aviation Services Des Taylor commented: “Fusion has been carefully constructed to ensure that, whilst all team members understand the challenges of the programme as a whole, each company also brings a particular expertise which allows it to take the lead in its particular field. For more than 25 years, Cobham has provided the MOD with a wide range of managed services and Cobham – through Fusion – will provide Project MARSHALL with leadership in the support solution and field service delivery.”
Raytheon and Serco Team
Raytheon Company and Serco Limited (Serco) have teamed to provide a low-risk, cost-effective solution for the U.K. Ministry of Defence (MOD) Joint Military Air Traffic Services program.
“Raytheon and Serco’s managed service partnership draws on the strengths of both companies,” said Richard Daniel, senior director for Raytheon Systems Limited. “Collectively, we have expertise across the entire JMATS requirement and the ability to deliver services safely, rapidly and cost effectively.”
“Serco’s core business is to provide services underpinned by the right combination of people, processes and technology,” said Andrew White, chief executive of Serco’s defense business. “That approach, together with our joint track record of supporting defense aviation, makes the Raytheon-Serco team a strong contender to deliver the MOD’s objectives for JMATS.”
Raytheon is the largest incumbent supplier of air traffic management equipment to the MOD and the only U.K.-based radar manufacturer and supplier of radar systems to both the MOD and the National Air Traffic Services. It is currently performing all ATC training for the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s Air Traffic Control Optimum Training Solutions program, a 10-year, performance-based training contract.
Serco is the largest non-state supplier of air traffic control services in the world and also provides operations, training and support services at many large international airports and on a number of MOD airfields.
