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Support Partnerships

An NSPO Support Partnership (SP) is a multinational cooperation mechanism established on the initiative of two or more NATO nations wishing to organize common support and services activities.

This support structure is a distinctive feature of NSPA. Participating Nations provide governance and guidance, whereas NSPA develops capabilities and manages Nations' requirements. The consolidation of requirements reduces costs and logistics footprint and provides a common and efficient support under a legal framework.

HOW ARE SUPPORT PARTNERSHIPS ESTABLISHED AND MANAGED?

Support Partnerships are established on the initiative of a minimum of two NATO Member Nations wishing to organize common logistics support for a single weapon system (e.g. Patriot), for a family of weapon systems (e.g. Rockets, Missiles, Unmanned Aerial Systems & Combat Vehicles), or for specialised equipment (e.g. GPS) or specific service (e.g. SALIS or Operational Logistics Support).

NATO Partner Nations may participate in a Support Partnerships as Associate States.

The legislative body of each Support Partnership is its Support Partnership Committee (SPC), composed of a representative of each participating nation and chaired by one of the Support Partnership Member Nations. Through the SPC, nations make collective decisions on policy issues for logistics support, operational management and sharing of associated operational and administrative costs based on mutually agreed cost sharing formulae.

WHAT CAN A SUPPORT PARTNERSHIP ACHIEVE?

Through a Support Partnership, the Participating Nations combine their efforts from the outset by consolidating procurement activity, enhancing service levels and reducing the logistics footprint while taking full advantage of economies of scale. The Support Partnership format also encourages the Participating Nations to discuss their logistics support challenges so that common and individual requirements are identified and addressed.

NSPA offers an à la carte service and national requirements may be consolidated at Support Partnership level. For a weapon system, the range of requirements may include configuration management and control, maintenance, services upgrades, supplies, studies and technical representation, and can cover the whole life-cycle management from procurement through to disposal. For services, the requirements are more specific and depends on the nations.

FUNDING OF A SUPPORT PARTNERSHIP

NSPA works on a customer-funded basis, and all tasks (operational and administrative) performed in connection with the Support Partnership's activities are funded by its Participating Nations. Support Partnership Participating Nations exercise full control over all operational activities and over the direct administrative costs required to execute requirements.

INDUSTRY BENEFITS

From an industry perspective, the Support Partnership consolidates all similar requirements from its participants. The Agency solicits industry through a fair and transparent International Competitive Bidding process. In this way a supplier can satisfy requirements from several nations through a single contract. Administrative lead times are shorter and contract conclusion is quicker than when contracting in a national environment.

NSPA staff have considerable experience in international contracting. Having a NATO contract may also bring with it some key marketing advantages and an enhanced reputation in the international defence domain.

OUR SUPPORT PARTNERSHIPS

Aviation & Unmanned Aerial Systems

• Multinational Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT)
• Fixed-Wing Aircraft 
• Helicopters 
• Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) 
• Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)

Land Combat

• Land Combat Vehicles (LCV) 
• Night Vision & Optoelectronics (NVO) 
• Artillery Rocket & Missile Systems (ARMS) 
• BOXER

Surveillance –
Command & Control

• Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC) 
• Air Command and Control System Level of Operational Capability 1 
• Ground-Based Air Defence (GBAD) 
• AN/FPS-117 Radar 
• RAT 31 Radar 
• RADAR

Missiles (Missile systems)
& Ammunition

• PATRIOT 
• STINGER 
• HAWK 
• SIDEWINDER 
• AMRAAM 
• Air-to-Surface Missiles 
• Land Combat Missiles (LCM) 
• Ammunition Support 

Specialized

• Strategic Airlift Interim Solution (SALIS) 
• Common Item Materiel Management (COMMIT) 
• Naval Logistics Support (NLSP) 
• Demilitarization, Dismantling & Disposal (D3) 
• Operations Logistics Support (OLSP) 
• Global Positioning System (GPS) 
• MACCE (MIDS – ACCS LOC1 – CCE Equipment)
  
• NSPA Routing Hub (NRH)
• Medical
• Global Commercially Contracted Satellite Communications (GCC SATCOM)