The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has released a
Clothing and Personal Equipment Procurement Plan 2007-2011 (CPEPP) to inform the defence clothing and textile industry of its intentions for the future and to help industry make plans with increased certainty.
The plan outlines proposed ADF expenditures valued at over $300 million across the next five years. However, more detail is provided in the current plan on the first two years of potential expenditure.
Defence will release a revised edition of the plan annually at the Defence + Industry Conference, to ensure it reflects current ADF clothing and personal equipment requirements.
The document is flexible because th e ADF’s requirements change and therefore the provision of suitable clothing and equipment will need to continue to evolve. Factors that will influence the requirements include:
- Nature and scale of military operations;
- Preparation for future contingencies;
- Emerging technologies;
- Interoperability with allies and coalition partners;
- Australian industry innovation;
- Size, scale and doctrine of the ADF; and
- Funding.
New requirements can emerge quickly and so whilst the ADF CPEPP is intended to inform and aid business planning, industry should rely on Request for Tender documentation as the authoritative statement of requirement.
Beyond the CPEPP, the ADF has also implemented forums and a newsletter, ‘Threads’, to ensure that the clothing and textile industry are well informed of Defence opportunities.
Defence will make reasonable efforts to notify industry of any in-year changes to the CPEPP through the clothing industry newsletter ‘Threads’ and through the DMO website (www.defence.gov.au/dmo).
Minister for Defence, The Honourable Dr Brendan Nelson, was in Melbourne on Tuesday 25 July to announce outcomes of the Government's response to the recommendations of the clothing review team. Soldiers from 1 Royal Australian Regiment B Company displayed the current combat apparel. (Left to right): Private Shaun Crowley, Private Andrea Brunskill and Warrent Officer 2 Brett Corney from Land 125, Infantry Soldier Enhancement Project.
