ASDEFCON Updates

Anthony Jarvis
May 21
1 min read

“Defence procurement must change to meet the strategic circumstances outlined in the DSR and to ensure Australia reaps the full benefits of the opportunities presented by the construction of Australia’s nuclear powered submarines (SSN-AUKUS). We will simplify Defence’s approach to contracting, increase its risk appetite, and shorten the time it takes to receive project and contract approvals, to deliver capability at speed while maintaining appropriate levels of governance”

Defence Industry Development Strategy, page 33

Defence has updated the ASEDFCON Conditions of Contract for the complex and strategic materiel acquisition templates by standardising common core provisions.

The updates occur following the launch of the Defence Industry Development Strategy by the Honourable Pat Conroy MP, Minister for Defence Industry. The Defence Industry Development Strategy establishes the framework and principles for Australia’s defence industry policy.

The Defence Industry Development Strategy focused reform of the contracting framework on 3 key areas:

Revision and simplification of the ASDEFCON suite of contracts.
Development of additional, more flexible contracting mechanisms.
Additional guidance, training and assistance to Defence procurement staff, to ensure the contracting frameworks are implemented in accordance with the principles of tailoring, agility, flexibility and risk appetite.

The Defence Industry Development Strategy at chapter 5 included an Action Step to modify ASDEFCON Complex and Strategic Materiel templates into a standardised suite of common core requirements.

Updated templates include:

High complexity templates