Nordic combat uniform system (NCU)

Transcription

1 Nordic combat uniform system (NCU) The Nordic Defence Industry Seminar 2016 Nordic Combat Uniform System (NCU) 1

2 Nordic combat uniform system (NCU) «The Nordic Combat Uniform System is an all service (army, navy, air force, home guard and special forces) combat uniform system for male and female soldiers. It is an inner to outer combat uniform system (from top to toe), which is functional in worldwide operations.» The system definition above does not include specialist combat uniform systems and ballistic protection. Project management Legal / Contract group QA group Technical group User group Norway is lead nation for the project All nations agree on a Technical arrangement (TA) for the project, based on the NORDEFCO Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Responsibility for the sub-groups divided between the participants Nordic Combat Uniform System (NCU) 2

3 Nordic camouflage pattern A common Nordic camouflage pattern has been analyzed A common Nordic camouflage pattern is not a part of the NCU. For the future: A NORDEFCO soldiers equipment camouflage project? Advantages from a logistics viewpoint; lower prices on textiles, possibilities for joint logistics both in the Nordic region and on Nordic deployments Needs political decisions/guidelines? Should not be part of the NCU project! Nordic Combat Uniform System (NCU) 3

4 Startup of a NORDEFCO project The NCU project is based on parts of a Norwegian procurement project, «P4019 Clothing and protection», approved by the Norwegian parliament Execution order from the Norwegian Ministry of Defence: «Continue ongoing work within NORDEFCO subgroups for soldiers equipment. Consider the possibility of joint procurement with one or more NORDEFCO partners.» NORDEFCO CHOD-NAD meeting on the 21 st of August 2015: Discussion: «A common Nordic Combat Uniform would send a strong signal of Nordic military cooperation. Norway can act as the leading nation for the uniform acquisition». Conclusions: «The CHODs and NADs took note of the progress, in particular Norway and Denmark. Finland and Sweden are positive to further developing NCU cooperation». Directive for Cooperation Area Armaments (COPA ARMA) Working Group Nordic Combat Uniform System (NCU) Draft directive November 2015 Norway and Denmark Signed directive February 2016 Norway, Denmark, Finland and Sweden Nordic Combat Uniform System (NCU) 4

5 Status of the project Discussions in NORDEFCO Spec From 2011 Start-up meeting NOR/DEN December 2015 Sweden/Finland join the project January 2016 Kick off for the project NOR/DEN/SWE/FIN February 2016 Copa Arma Directive for the NCU project February 2016 Technical arrangement signed April 2016 RFI published April 2016 NCU user requirement document approved April 2016 Development of contract strategy May 2016 RFI conference June 2016 Nordic Combat Uniform System (NCU) 5

6 Time schedule Invitation to tender (ITT) published December 2016 Contract notice Request for quotation (RFQ) Test period October 2017 April 2018 Contract signing December 2018 Note! This is the initial time schedule as stated in the TA. A more detailed time schedule will be part of the contract strategy. Nordic Combat Uniform System (NCU) 6

7 What to achieve from NORDEFCO cooperation? What do we expect to achieve from a joint procurement project? Modified off the shelf (MOTS) system - Fewer costly national requirements We know the needs the industry knows the solution More effective test period Sharing of experience/knowledge across borders Lessons learned distributed to other ongoing/new NORDEFCO projects Project parameters NORDEFCO vs national project Time: Development of multinational arrangements/agreements and project documents are time consuming Performing the project takes more time than doing the procurement nationally Cost: Volume ordered may reduce the price? Over head cost for the project higher than at a national procurement. Performance: Better end product as result of knowledge from 4 countries. Offers from vendors that normally don t compete in the European market. First step towards a Nordic soldier system. Nordic Combat Uniform System (NCU) 7

8 Lessons learned Nordic Combat Uniform System (NCU) 8

9 Lessons learned so far Interpretation and implementation of EU directive 2009/81/EC Different interpretation and implementation in the nations Different court practice in the nations Different approval processes Where, in the approval process, is the project in the participation nations? Who has the mandate to make decisions? What decisions may be done by the project, and what considerations must be carried out externally? Especially legal issues. How do we handle changes or deviations in documents and/or procedures? Templates What nation s templates are to be used? Do these deviate from national regulations or legislation? Thinking as a team, not as individual nations takes time. NORDEFCO SharePoint is a good platform for joint procurement! Nordic Combat Uniform System (NCU) 9

10 NORDEFCO How could NORDEFCO make the cooperation easier? Establish clear lines of command - Who makes the decisions? Develop functional procedures and templates for joint procurement. Guidelines on how to conduct a joint procurement? Establish a support group with people who have actual experience from NORDEFCO procurement. NORDEFCO should be responsible for the kick-off when establishing new NORDEFCO projects! J O K E R J O K E R Nordic Combat Uniform System (NCU) 10

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