The Canadian government has awarded Irving company Fleetway a C$72.6 million contract for the technical data management and systems engineering support services for the RCN’s fleet of Halifax-class ships.
As announced by the government, the contract will see the company provide an expert team to store and manage thousands of critical ship documents, in addition to producing complex designs to support the installation of new equipment on board the ships.
The initial contract will run for the first six years, while options, extending for up to 22 years, could reach a value of up to $552 million.
According to the government, this contract ensures that the Royal Canadian Navy and supporting shipyards continue to have the technical data required to support ongoing ship maintenance during planned docking work periods.
All technical documentation, manuals, and engineering drawings of ship systems/equipment must be regularly updated to track any changes following maintenance or upgrades. This information is used to help monitor the state of the ship, and is also used by maintenance crews to support ongoing work.
“As we continue to transition to our future fleet, it is essential that we continue to foster an environment that enables the RCN to keep our frigates floating, moving, and fighting,” Anita Anand, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, said. “Fleetway Inc. brings world class technical data management and systems engineering support services which will help to ensure the RCN is ready to help, ready to lead and ready to fight.”
This new in-service support contract will replace the services provided by Fleetway Inc. through the previous in-service support contract that will expire in October 2020.
Work under the new contract began in April 2020, and will continue until the fleet is retired in the early 2040s. Halifax-class frigates are to be replaced by the Canadian Surface Combatant fleet of ships.
