3.15 Most major defence equipment programmes involve engagement of a prime contractor to act as a single point of contact between the client and the supply chain. This reduces the demands on departmental teams. In two digital programmes we examined, programme teams have taken on this role due to dissatisfaction with the way that suppliers have carried it out in the past, but staff involved reported they lacked the resources and experience to do so effectively.
3.16 One of the areas providing the most frequent challenges to delivery teams is provision of Government Furnished Assets (GFA). This refers to any Departmental asset such as equipment, information or resources made available to the contractor by the Department, where it carries liability for not providing the assets at the right time and in the right condition. We found recurring problems with GFA, despite teams recognising it as a significant risk. For example, on the Type 31e frigate, to gain financial recompense, the supplier is required to show that late or defective GFA has had a detrimental impact on the delivery of the ship. The Department had still not finalised its schedule of GFA 18 months into the contract, and classed the probability of delay as high.