NJS Coastwatch coontract (media release)
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NJS Coastwatch coontract (media release)
minister media release
Australian Government announces $1 billion border protection boost - Wednesday, 7th December 2005
The Australian Government has announced a $1 billion boost to border protection with the selection of a preferred tenderer for the Customs Coastwatch civil maritime surveillance contract, the Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator Chris Ellison, said today.
The National Air Support company Surveillance Australia Pty Ltd has been selected preferred tenderer by the Australian Government for the $1 billion civil maritime surveillance contract.
The new service will comprise an all-Dash 8 aircraft fleet, doubling the fleet of these highly capable longer-range fully electronic surveillance aircraft available under the existing contract from five to 10," Senator Ellison said.
"The contract will also allow Coastwatch to increase its use in the future of sophisticated surveillance technology, including satellite imagery and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)," he said.
The new 12-year contract commences January 2008, pending successful contract negotiations with Surveillance Australia, based in Adelaide.
"The aircraft fleet forms a vital part of Customs efforts to detect and deter illegal activity such as drug and people smuggling, illegal fishing and environmental offences around Australia, particularly across our northern coastline," he said.
"Along with support from the Coastwatch Torres Strait helicopter service, regular patrols by Customs and Navy patrol boats and the trial of a High Frequency Surface Wave Radar system, the aircraft fleet will help to ensure that our northern sea borders are closely monitored and protected."
The contract would ensure continuity of strong border protection arrangements and utilise the sound understanding already in place by Surveillance Australia of Coastwatch requirements.
"The selection process carried out by Customs Coastwatch has been comprehensive and rigorous and has included extensive consultation with industry and thorough probity assessments," Senator Ellison said.
"This new contract will strongly complement other maritime surveillance initiatives by the Howard Government such as the Joint Offshore Protection Command (JOP-C), which will combine the resources and expertise of Customs and Defence to create a single joint maritime surveillance, response and interdiction system and deliver an over-arching military capability for offshore maritime protection.
"The Government's record of achievement in border protection contrasts vividly with the discredited and confused rhetoric of the Labor Party, which continues to push its deeply flawed Coastguard idea despite not knowing whether it supports a Coastguard costing $895 million or $300 million.
"While the Government is committed to funding a comprehensive suite of assets and skilled personnel to protect our borders, Labor's only commitment is to rob our frontline of highly trained officers and send them to desks in Canberra," Senator Ellison said.
The inshore/offshore surveillance service, also known as the Service A contract, was one of two tender processes conducted simultaneously by Customs Coastwatch as part of its Civil Maritime Surveillance (CMS04) contract process.
The Service B contract for a surveillance and response helicopter service for the Torres Strait was signed with Brisbane-based Australian Helicopters Pty Ltd in August this year.
Media enquiries:
Brad Burke (02) 6277 7260 / (0417 749 711)
From NJS/NAS website
Surveillance Australia is CMS04 Preferred Tenderer National Air Support, a Cobham plc company, is pleased to announce that its subsidiary Surveillance Australia has been named preferred bidder for the $1 billion 12-year Australian Customs Service Coastwatch aerial surveillance contract, known as “CMS04”.
Surveillance Australia is the current provider of aerial Civil Maritime Surveillance services to the Australian Customs Service Coastwatch program.
Under the new contract Surveillance Australia will provide, operate and maintain a fleet of ten fully electronic Bombardier Dash8 aircraft from January 2008 to the year 2020. The aircraft will provide all-weather, day and night electronic surveillance of Australia’s maritime Exclusive Economic Zone.
“We are delighted that Surveillance Australia has been selected as preferred provider to meet the Australian government’s future surveillance needs,” said National Air Support Managing Director, Peter Nottage.
“This is a major milestone in an exacting three-year process. However, we are aware that there is much work to do before we finalise a contract.”
“As current provider of civil maritime surveillance services, we are very proud of our 10 year partnership with Coastwatch and of the part we have played in developing and enhancing systems which have made Coastwatch the benchmark for such operations around the world,” Mr Nottage said.
Surveillance Australia has supplied and operated fixed wing aircraft for Coastwatch since 1995 under a performance-based service contract, providing all support systems and infrastructure including aircrew, training, bases and maintenance. Coastwatch directs Surveillance Australia aircraft to detect illegal fishing and immigration, quarantine and environmental hazards, drug smuggling and missing vessels. This is the largest operation of its type in the world.
Current Operation
Surveillance Australia specialises in Surveillance related aviation services, primarily serving the Australian Customs Service Coastwatch program, the largest civilian aerial surveillance program in the world.
Surveillance Australia provides an integrated service to Coastwatch, including aircraft, sensors, crews and bases, maintenance support and operational planning.
The aircraft include:
5 Dash 8-200 MPA aircraft fitted with surveillance radar, infra-red sensors and daylight TV camera for long-range offshore surveillance.
3 Cessna Reims F406 turboprop aircraft fitted with surveillance radar and night vision systems for inshore surveillance.
6 PBN BN2B Islander aircraft, fitted for the Visual Surveillance role.
1 AC500 Aero Commander, fitted for the Visual Surveillance Role.
All aircraft are fitted with an extensive radio and avionics suite, laptop computers, specially modified interiors and surveillance windows.
Bases and Engineering Support facilities have been established at Broome, Darwin, Cairns and Horn Island.
Australian Government announces $1 billion border protection boost - Wednesday, 7th December 2005
The Australian Government has announced a $1 billion boost to border protection with the selection of a preferred tenderer for the Customs Coastwatch civil maritime surveillance contract, the Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator Chris Ellison, said today.
The National Air Support company Surveillance Australia Pty Ltd has been selected preferred tenderer by the Australian Government for the $1 billion civil maritime surveillance contract.
The new service will comprise an all-Dash 8 aircraft fleet, doubling the fleet of these highly capable longer-range fully electronic surveillance aircraft available under the existing contract from five to 10," Senator Ellison said.
"The contract will also allow Coastwatch to increase its use in the future of sophisticated surveillance technology, including satellite imagery and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)," he said.
The new 12-year contract commences January 2008, pending successful contract negotiations with Surveillance Australia, based in Adelaide.
"The aircraft fleet forms a vital part of Customs efforts to detect and deter illegal activity such as drug and people smuggling, illegal fishing and environmental offences around Australia, particularly across our northern coastline," he said.
"Along with support from the Coastwatch Torres Strait helicopter service, regular patrols by Customs and Navy patrol boats and the trial of a High Frequency Surface Wave Radar system, the aircraft fleet will help to ensure that our northern sea borders are closely monitored and protected."
The contract would ensure continuity of strong border protection arrangements and utilise the sound understanding already in place by Surveillance Australia of Coastwatch requirements.
"The selection process carried out by Customs Coastwatch has been comprehensive and rigorous and has included extensive consultation with industry and thorough probity assessments," Senator Ellison said.
"This new contract will strongly complement other maritime surveillance initiatives by the Howard Government such as the Joint Offshore Protection Command (JOP-C), which will combine the resources and expertise of Customs and Defence to create a single joint maritime surveillance, response and interdiction system and deliver an over-arching military capability for offshore maritime protection.
"The Government's record of achievement in border protection contrasts vividly with the discredited and confused rhetoric of the Labor Party, which continues to push its deeply flawed Coastguard idea despite not knowing whether it supports a Coastguard costing $895 million or $300 million.
"While the Government is committed to funding a comprehensive suite of assets and skilled personnel to protect our borders, Labor's only commitment is to rob our frontline of highly trained officers and send them to desks in Canberra," Senator Ellison said.
The inshore/offshore surveillance service, also known as the Service A contract, was one of two tender processes conducted simultaneously by Customs Coastwatch as part of its Civil Maritime Surveillance (CMS04) contract process.
The Service B contract for a surveillance and response helicopter service for the Torres Strait was signed with Brisbane-based Australian Helicopters Pty Ltd in August this year.
Media enquiries:
Brad Burke (02) 6277 7260 / (0417 749 711)
From NJS/NAS website
Surveillance Australia is CMS04 Preferred Tenderer National Air Support, a Cobham plc company, is pleased to announce that its subsidiary Surveillance Australia has been named preferred bidder for the $1 billion 12-year Australian Customs Service Coastwatch aerial surveillance contract, known as “CMS04”.
Surveillance Australia is the current provider of aerial Civil Maritime Surveillance services to the Australian Customs Service Coastwatch program.
Under the new contract Surveillance Australia will provide, operate and maintain a fleet of ten fully electronic Bombardier Dash8 aircraft from January 2008 to the year 2020. The aircraft will provide all-weather, day and night electronic surveillance of Australia’s maritime Exclusive Economic Zone.
“We are delighted that Surveillance Australia has been selected as preferred provider to meet the Australian government’s future surveillance needs,” said National Air Support Managing Director, Peter Nottage.
“This is a major milestone in an exacting three-year process. However, we are aware that there is much work to do before we finalise a contract.”
“As current provider of civil maritime surveillance services, we are very proud of our 10 year partnership with Coastwatch and of the part we have played in developing and enhancing systems which have made Coastwatch the benchmark for such operations around the world,” Mr Nottage said.
Surveillance Australia has supplied and operated fixed wing aircraft for Coastwatch since 1995 under a performance-based service contract, providing all support systems and infrastructure including aircrew, training, bases and maintenance. Coastwatch directs Surveillance Australia aircraft to detect illegal fishing and immigration, quarantine and environmental hazards, drug smuggling and missing vessels. This is the largest operation of its type in the world.
Current Operation
Surveillance Australia specialises in Surveillance related aviation services, primarily serving the Australian Customs Service Coastwatch program, the largest civilian aerial surveillance program in the world.
Surveillance Australia provides an integrated service to Coastwatch, including aircraft, sensors, crews and bases, maintenance support and operational planning.
The aircraft include:
5 Dash 8-200 MPA aircraft fitted with surveillance radar, infra-red sensors and daylight TV camera for long-range offshore surveillance.
3 Cessna Reims F406 turboprop aircraft fitted with surveillance radar and night vision systems for inshore surveillance.
6 PBN BN2B Islander aircraft, fitted for the Visual Surveillance role.
1 AC500 Aero Commander, fitted for the Visual Surveillance Role.
All aircraft are fitted with an extensive radio and avionics suite, laptop computers, specially modified interiors and surveillance windows.
Bases and Engineering Support facilities have been established at Broome, Darwin, Cairns and Horn Island.
One Billion?! 
I wonder if I'll get my endorsement money back with interest? I didn't think so. 
I wonder if I'll get my endorsement money back with interest? I didn't think so.
There were a couple of other serious contenders, Raytheon being one.
Capn Bloggs, you wouldn't have paid any endorsement money unless you left SA before your bond had runout, or are you an NJS employee? NJS and SA are far from being the same company, we don't get ID travel for starters!
Capn Bloggs, you wouldn't have paid any endorsement money unless you left SA before your bond had runout, or are you an NJS employee? NJS and SA are far from being the same company, we don't get ID travel for starters!
we don't get ID travel for starters!
