Case Study:

Collins Submarine Fleet – Commercial Model Implementation

The situation

The Department of Defence (Defence) was seeking to transform the maintenance contracting structure for the Collins Class Submarine Fleet, ensuring it encouraged optimum performance both from cost and operational aspects.

Brett Freebody

Our contribution

FreebodyCogent was first engaged in 2010 to lead the commercial transformation of the Collins Fleet maintenance arrangements with the service provider from a crude cost plus model to more commercially astute and sophisticated performance based model. This process included:
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designing a commercial model to be phased in over time, transitioning from a cost plus environment to a commercial model which incentivised both cost and operational performance;

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changing the cost model to a Target Cost Incentive Model (TCIM);
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transitioning to more commercially realistic profit targets;

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implementing a more equitable model to share the cost and gains for financial performance against Targeted Cost budgets;

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having profit subject to Operational KPIs; and

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provide a more robust and better defined cost guidance framework.

In 2022, FreebodyCogent was also tasked by Defence to lead the financial elements of implementing the ‘Life of Type Extension’ of the Collins Class Fleet. This is a complex, multi-year project which will integrate both maintenance and new systems integration simultaneously.

The results

A new In Service Support Contract ISSC was introduced in 2012 and along with the ‘Coles Review’ recommendations leading to:
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vastly improved Fleet maintenance performance with a greater focus on Navy requirements, including Fleet Availability;

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a more focused approach to financial efficiency;

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a clear and comprehensive framework for measuring, managing and improving contractual performance;

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financial consequences and performance incentives to motivate behaviours conducive to meeting the Collins Fleet required outcomes; and

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an end state five years after implementation where the Collins Fleet was measuring up to and exceeding international benchmarks.

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