Department Of Foreign Affairs And Trade Tender

This Request For Expressions Of Interest Seeks Responses From Organisations Interested In Providing Services To Support Implementation Of The Cable Connectivity And Resilience Centre (the Centre). Undersea Telecommunications Cables Are Key To Global Economic Growth And Resilience. Continued Growth In Bandwidth Demand Is Likely To Drive Further Cable Construction Globally And In The Indo-pacific. However, Undersea Cables Are Vulnerable To A Variety Of Risks Which Can Result In Serious Economic And Security Consequences. It Is Crucial That The Indo?pacific Region Develops And Manages An Undersea Cable Network That Is Resilient To Challenges And Supports Future Economic Growth. The Australian Government Has Established The Centre In Dfat To Address The Most Important Issues Facing The Development And Management Of Undersea Cables In The Indo-pacific. Australia Can Play A More Active Role In Supporting Partner Governments’ Policy And Regulatory Development And Reforms, Shaping Regional And Global Norms, As Well As Strengthening Engagement Between The Public And Private Sector On New Cable Projects. To Be Effective, The Centre Will Need To Work With A Wide Range Of Partners In Indo-pacific Governments, The Private Sector, Regional And Multilateral Organisations, Academia And Think Tanks, And Across The Australian Government. The Centre Will Contribute To The Quad Partnership For Cable Connectivity And Resilience Announced In 2023. The Centre Aims To Position Australia As A Trusted Partner For Countries In The Indo-pacific (south And Southeast Asia And The Pacific). Dfat’s Early Outreach Has Identified A Clear Need For Assistance Regarding Undersea Cable Issues, Particularly In Southeast Asia. The Centre Will Build On And Work With Existing Australian Government Mechanisms For Infrastructure Funding And Advice, Including The Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility For The Pacific And The Partnerships For Infrastructure (p4i) Program In Southeast Asia. The Centre Will Be Flexible On How And When It Works With Partners And When It Will Work Independently.