ACT, NSW, VIC, SA, WA, QLD, NT, TAS, Overseas

Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart

The Vessel will provide a safe and technically advanced mobile research platform. It will operate from the tropical north to the Antarctic ice-edge and across the Indian, Southern, and Pacific oceans so as to greatly enhance Australia's capacity to:

• investigate, assess, develop and manage seabed resources;

• detect and predict changes in the ocean environment and their implications for weather and climate; and

• characterise and manage marine ecosystems, biodiversity and fisheries.

Funding to undertake the procurement of the Vessel for the Marine National Facility is proposed to be provided to CSIRO by the Australian Government through the Department of Innovation Industry Science and Research from the Education Investment Fund.  The total funding amount is expected to be AUD$120 million. This amount is intended to fund this procurement as well as a range of other costs associated with bringing the Vessel into service.  These additional costs are expected to include additional scientific equipment (such as modular research systems) and support costs which are outside the scope of this procurement.

Respondents should note that this is not a request for tender. However, CSIRO may invite one or more Respondents to this RFP to participate in subsequent Offer Definition Activities and a request for refined offer process.