The competence sector «Procurement», as the central purchasing body is responsible for all purchases of goods and services for the Swiss Armed Forces, the Confederation and other customers in the area of responsibility of armasuisse. The emphasis here is on successful project management for evaluating and purchasing complex systems, goods and services for the Armed Forces. Here, particular emphasis is placed on ensuring technical system integrity over the entire life cycle – from introduction to operation, through to environmentally sound disposal at the end of the useful life.
The goal of this competence sector is procure the most suitable product under competitive conditions on the market for the customers, taking into account the applicable legal, financial and temporal framework conditions.
armasuisse is in contact with numerous companies and suppliers both at home and abroad and is involved early on in the client’s planning process.
The competence sector «Procurement» comprises eight technical specialist areas which cover the thematic responsibilities of the competence sector «Procurement», as well as a comprehensive area «Commerce, Procurement Control and Quality Management».
The technical specialist areas are responsible for successful project management for evaluating and procuring systems and goods in their area of responsibility as well as for ensuring the technical system integrity over the entire life cycle.
The technical specialist area Sensors, Sensor systems, such as radar and meteorological sensors. They are used for position recognition, monitoring and supporting military operations.
The technical specialist area Intelligence is responsible for evaluating, procuring and maintaining secure IT platforms and systems. These include command and control information systems and intelligence gathering systems. The division is also responsible for procuring high- and very high-security goods and systems for the entire federal administration. The aim is to support the army and the intelligence services in their tasks of assessing the situation and gathering intelligence.
The technical specialist area Command and Control is responsible for the procurement of fixed, partially mobile and mobile telecommunications for military and civilian command and control. Its task area also comprises mission-critical software, command and control infrastructures such as data centres, command posts and mountain lodges as well as systems for space-related skills of the Armed Forces.
The technical specialist area Effect Ground is responsible for combat vehicles, weapon systems and ammunition. It creates the material conditions necessary for ground operations by the army and other state security agencies.
The technical specialist area Effect Air concerns the aviation systems of the Swiss Air Force. This includes unmanned aircraft, transportation and training aircraft as well as combat aircraft.
The technical specialist area Integrated Air Defence comprises systems for air monitoring and defence which are embedded in a holistic defence concept. The goal is to protect Swiss airspace through coordinated sensory analysis and effect systems. This includes, for example, the new combat aircraft F-35A and the new system for long-range air defence PATRIOT.
The technical specialist area Mobility Ground deals with transport vehicles and aggregates of all kinds. The area ensures the mobility of the troops and material transport in operation.
The technical specialist area Training, Support Systems and Textiles covers modern training and simulation systems, NBC defence and sanitary systems, engineer and rescue equipment as well as personal equipment such as uniforms and protective clothing. It supports the operational readiness and safety of the military personnel.
The area Commerce, Procurement Control and Quality Management bears the responsibility for commercial processing, contract management, resource control as well as quality management of all projects and purchases in the competence sector Procurement. It consists of four specialist areas Commerce and a specialist area Quality Management, which support the eight technical specialist areas in project management and procurement accordingly.
