NEW SUBMARINE ACQUISITION, PROCUREMENT, DESIGN, BUILD AND SUPPORT STRATEGIES
Prime Contractorship and Contractorised Logistic Support
The Prime Contract for the Astute Class was the first awarded by the Ministry of Defence for nuclear submarines. It resulted from the MoD Defence Procurement Agency's acknowledgement that industry was better placed to lead on the management of the significant integration risks inherent in the design and build of such a complex platform.
Integrated Project Team
VSEL became a GEC company during 1995. Renamed Marconi Marine (VSEL) Limited, the company subsequently secured the design and build contract for the first three submarines, to be named Astute, Ambush and Artful. The merger of Marconi Electronic Systems companies with British Aerospace in November 1999 saw the prime contract novated to the new company - BAE SYSTEMS - and is held today by their Programmes Organisation company BAE SYSTEMS Astute Class Project Limited
The Prime Contract Office (PCO) works closely with the Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) Attack Submarine Project Team in an Integrated Project Team environment where stakeholders' interests are all represented.
Electronic Product Model
The PCO and DPA use a comprehensive computerised electronic product model accessible on-line to both parties to capture each mutually agreed development and update the design definition. Potential design problems are resolved in a virtual reality environment which enables both parties to 'walk' through the virtual submarine's compartments.
