Babcock awarded five-year Royal Navy equipment information configuration contract

Babcock have been awarded a configuration management contract for the Royal Navy and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary surface ship fleet.

The five-year contract, awarded by QinetiQ, on behalf of the Ministry of Defence (MOD), under the Aurora Engineering Delivery Partnership, will see us continue with the responsibility for the Surface Ship Definition Database (SSDD) – a tool for the management of platform related data.

Operation of the Master Record Data Centre (MRDC), the core facility for ship information configuration services, will deliver major activities including:

• Equipment ship fit
• Ship datum document
• Defect report management via the Surface Ship Equipment Data Record

The work of the MRDC will contribute to ensure that the necessary systems and equipment, including maintenance and spares, are available when and where they are required to meet Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary demand. Project delivery will be supported by Allan Webb Ltd, which will provide specialist data interrogation skills.

The SSDD interfaces with numerous MOD systems and aligns with the customers’ future Information Knowledge Management (IKM) strategy, enabling us to efficiently deliver a holistic, surface ship management solution. Over the course of the contract, tangible benefits will be evident on existing and future programmes, including the Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carriers, Type 31 General Purpose Frigates, and the Type 26 Frigates, with Babcock embedding and, where necessary, upgrading existing data management systems to aid through-life support programmes.

MRDC will be driven from the core configuration team in Portsmouth. Benefitting from strong supply chain relationships, Allan Webb Ltd will deliver key data interrogation aspects for this contract including the use of their Diamond tool. The MRDC team have developed a training programme that has grown its own talent and enhanced the depth and knowledge of the team.

Neil Young, Babcock’s Engineering and Technology Director, said: “We are pleased to have been awarded the contract for the delivery of configuration management throughout the surface fleet.

“Our customers, and the mission we share, inspire us each and every day to strive for excellence. We’re by their side, enabling them to fulfil their duty, working closely with them to support their critical assets for decades and we look forward to continuing this strong relationship.”

Cdr Matt Shirvill RN, DE&S lead for Platform Configuration Management, added: “I am really pleased to be placing this contract to provide essential Configuration Status Accounting services to the surface fleet and the wider maritime support community.

“Working together as one team, DE&S Ships’ and Aurora have secured world-class engineering excellence to support and empower frontline naval operations across the globe.

“I am looking forward to working closely with my Babcock, Allan Webb and QinetiQ colleagues to maximise the service over the next five years, leveraging the EDP continuous improvement approach to match the dynamic demands and aspirations of the Naval Service.”