Additional Fleet Time Docking Capability Programme (AFTDC)

The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (“the Authority”) has initiated the Additional Fleet Time Docking Capability (AFTDC) Programme to procure two floating docks and associated infrastructure to be located at HM Naval Base Clyde. As the single integrated operating base for UK Royal Navy Submarines, HM Naval Base Clyde is the home of fleet time docking capability to support submarine availability. Following completion of a period of market engagement with industry, the Authority intends to formally commence a procurement for AFTDC.

The purpose of this Prior Information Notice (PIN) is to invite industry to participate in market engagement events to be conducted by the AFTDC Joint Project Team (JPT), which represents all Authority stakeholders in the AFTDC Programme. Events will progressively mature in detail and be flexible to facilitate the flow of information between the Authority and industry participants, prior to the commencement of a future procurement.

Market engagement event 1 is planned for Thursday 07 December 2023 from 10:00 to 12:00 and will be a virtual briefing to industry participants who have successfully registered to be involved in market engagement. The briefing will provide the background and context of the AFTDC Programme and initiate an activity for industry to provide feedback and written responses to the questions in the Market Engagement Paper (to be issued in advance of market engagement event 1 to successfully registered industry participants). Market engagement event 1 will be followed up with further market engagement events focusing on one-to-one discussions between the Authority and industry participants.

The Authority is looking to engage with suppliers that have the capability to design and build significant elements of the floating docks and associated infrastructure to participate in the market engagement stage of the AFTDC Programme. At this initial stage the Authority does not intend to engage with potential system or equipment suppliers as part of market engagement. There may, at the Authority’s discretion, be the opportunity for more focused engagement in due course.

Details of how to register for market engagement event 1 are outlined below.

Registration

Those who are interested in participating in market engagement event 1 should write to the Authority at [email protected] to register their interest by including the following information:

• Company Name and Number.
• Provision of Capability Statement (Maximum 2 pages of A4) including your organisation’s:
• Capabilities of relevance to AFTDC, specifically design and build capability for floating docks, and/or

maritime/port infrastructure, such as jetties, quays and other related infrastructure.

• Experience in delivering similar scale projects and identification of role undertaken.
• Scope of interest to deliver with respect to AFTDC (e.g. floating dock and/or associated port infrastructure).
• Principal point of contact’s details (name, phone number, email address and postal address).
• Contact details of market engagement event 1 proposed attendees (name, phone number, email address).
• Confirmation of extant Security Clearance for all proposed attendees.
• Permission (or otherwise) to make available the principal point of contact’s details and your organisation’s

scope of interest to other organisations at a future point during market engagement for the purpose of

collaboration.

The Authority will use the registration process to gather high level information on suppliers and ensure those invited to participate in market engagement are appropriate.

The deadline for registration to participate in market engagement event 1 is Tuesday 21 November 2023 at 09:00. Any expression of interest received after this time may be rejected at the Authority’s sole and absolute discretion.

The Authority is under no obligation to conduct a procurement or to enter into any contract(s) arising out of the proceedings envisaged by this PIN and the Authority will not bear any associated costs incurred by industry in participating. All information that is to be supplied by the Authority during market engagement is indicative and subject to change.