DAC 12

Events

Delivering Availability and Capability

Event date: 25 July 2012
Event end date: 26 July 2012

Location:

Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Shrivenham

What this event about?

In order to promote and develop our collective understanding of how to improve equipment capability and its subsequent in-service availability, Cranfield University is hosting a Symposium to explore the opportunities to meet this challenge with the theme of the Total Support Force. Contracts for availability and capability are designed to deliver affordable and value for money through life support solutions in an era of austerity. Ever increasing operational tempo demands that Commanders require more from even less and it is essential that they know what resources will be available, and from where, to support them both now and in the longer term. Through Life Support contracts are now commonplace as the MoD seeks to replace fixed costs with variable costs. Initiatives abound which build on partnering and the provision of a service to military commanders that will allow the most effective use of their resources. These contracts are often complex and difficult both to conceive and to deliver in practice. The idea of the Total Support Force is to integrate the component parts more effectively to allow activities hitherto done by the military to migrate to both the reserves and industry, creating an enterprise where regular forces, reserves and industry are fused together against readiness assumptions and force generation requirements.

This Symposium will review the current experience of a wide range of different approaches to the challenge of delivering support and availability contracts; what lessons have so far been learned, what is best practice and how can the Total Support Force be delivered so it can all be done better.

AIM

The Defence Academy and Cranfield University at Shrivenham aims to bring the component parts of the Total Support Force community together for an open dialogue in order to exploit the knowledge gained so far with Contracting for Availability and Capability; we aim to provide the opportunity to improve the process and better understand the opportunities and challenges that the Total Support Force offers. The Symposium will seek to establish a common understanding of the issues and look at the many different options for better integrating a total and through life support solution which puts available equipment where it is needed. Delivering an assured support solution with an acceptable reward for industry are vital ingredients for success and the Symposium will highlight some success stories and the lessons learned. The Symposium is programmed over two days and includes an evening dinner. The evening function maximises the opportunity for interaction,
networking and the exchange of ideas.

Day One - Wednesday 25 July 2012

On Day One we will explore the idea of the Total Support Force and review some existing contracts for support, for availability and for capability and compare and contrast the success or otherwise of the arrangements. We will seek to establish a common understanding of availability and capability contracts, albeit recognising that every situation is unique. We will highlight both the academic thinking and the huge effect that logistics has on availability and contracting for availability and identify the issues that must be solved for successful delivery. How this can be addressed effectively for deployed operations will also be considered. MOD Policy for Support Solutions, Route to Service and the Support Solutions Matrix will be reviewed. We will consider issues such as Through-Life Capability Management delivered during acquisition and the theory and practice of Contracting for Availability & Capability. We will pose questions such as guarantees for availability, do they work, and the savings from CLS & PFI contracts, are they real or just perceived? Is Defence in safe hands with its support contracts agreed for the next 20years? Maintaining Operational Capability at lower cost is an imperative for the MOD but what are the commercial imperatives for industry? We will also review different approaches such as leasing Defence equipment and improving the delivery through the Total Support Force.

An all inclusive evening dinner will be hosted at STEAM. Transport will be provided to local hotels and the Officers Mess before and after the dinner.

Day 2 - Thursday 26 July 2012

On Day Two we will continue the same themes with an emphasis on Operational Availability by exploring the lessons learnt from Op HERRICK 15. Current contracts for availability will be investigated and Supplier/Customer relations in peace and war and the challenge of sustainment over long distances and without host-nation support will be covered. International developments in the commercial world will be investigated and international programmes reviewed that promise to deliver significant results and benefits, regardless of whether it is in the sea, land or air environment.

The programme will include a Keynote address each day.

Confirmed contributors include:
• Commander Joint Force Support (Afghanistan), Brig Mitch Mitchell late REME
• Head of Naval Bases Operating Centre, Cdre Ian Jess RN
• Head of Support Chain Management, Brig Mark Dunn late RLC
• Director Capability, Combat Service Support, Brig Martin Boswell late REME
• Head of Logistics NEC, Air Cdre Barrie Thomson RAF
• ACOS J1/J4 PJHQ, Air Cdre Paul Higgins RAF
• BAE Systems, Brig (Retd) Paul Evans OBE
• Supreme Group UK, Maj Gen (Retd) Jeff Mason RM
• Jacobs Sula, Dr Jim Ballard

Displays.

Previous attendees will realise that this symposium provides a highly targeted audience. Time will be especially allotted to the displays and we offer companies, departments and establishments an opportunity to display their equipment or advertise their capability. A complimentary half page advertisement in the symposium programme is available to those who book display space.
Completed application needs to be returned by 13 June 2012.

Please Note: Display personnel need to register as delegates if they wish to attend symposium presentations and meals.