Defence Storage & Distribution Agency (DSDA)

The DSDA aims to provide an effective and efficient materiel distribution, processing and storage service within the supply chain to sustain the fighting power of UK Armed Forces worldwide; and it looks to be the first-choice supplier for the distribution, processing and storage of materiel for defence. Most Service people who have been in for a few years will have been part of a convoy going to one of its vast depots and loading up with stores for operations, training, adventure training or simply life in barracks.

DSDA was born in April 1999 as a result of recommendations in the 1997 Strategic Defence Review. Four years later, in April 2003, there was a further merger between Defence Munitions and the then DSDA to form the current Agency. It is an MoD Agency belonging to the Secretary of State for Defence, although he delegates day-to-day ownership responsibilities.

Its estate totals 4052 hectares and it stores one-third of a million cubic metres of explosives and two million cubic metres of non-explosive items. It has five and a half million transactions a year, with an inventory of one and a quarter million different lines worth £16 billion, run by nearly 200 military and over 4500 civilian personnel. Its planned Gross Operating Cost for 2003/04 is £253 million broken down into:

-personnel – 43 per cent

-accommodation – 35 per cent

-defence equipment – 14 per cent

-plant, machinery and vehicles – 5 per cent

- IT and communications – 2 per cent

-other costs and services – 1 per cent.

DSDA manages its storage, processing and distribution tasks on behalf of its customers in defence and industry. Although the majority of DSDA customers are the Integrated Project Teams within the Defence Logistics Organisation and the Defence Procurement Agency, the Agency is increasingly forging partnerships with industry and developing closer ties with other organisations. Its main customers are:

-Director General Equipment Support (Land)

-Director General Equipment Support (Air)

-Warship Support Agency

-Non-Project Procurement Organisation

-HQ Land Command

-Defence Procurement Agency

-Defence Fuels Group

-Defence Catering Group

-Defence Communications Service Agency.

Materiel is purchased and owned by the customers, mainly for the front-line commands. The latter require it to support both operational and routine tasks. These consumers are:

-RN, Regular and Territorial Army, and RAF units worldwide

-MoD administrative and training units

-other government departments

-other authorities, including NATO allies

-commonwealth and foreign governments

-defence contractors.

Services are set out in customer supplier agreements (CSAs), which specify the level of service in terms of the quality, cost and performance standards to be met.

Factors critical to DSDA’s success are:

- meet the requirements in CSAs

- deliver safe and environmentally responsible outputs

- deliver its part of DLO and higher-level formation strategies

- meet financial targets and efficiencies

- grow the business where it benefits defence

- have a well-trained and motivated workforce

- be an integral part of a rationalised, joined-up supply chain.

Its stated objectives are to:

-examine existing operational capability and to optimise performance

-enhance specialist military logistics capability throughout the supply chain

-enable the Agency to provide total logistics solutions.

DSDA’s major installations are:

-head office at Bicester

-Defence Munitions Centres (DMCs) at Gosport, Dean Hill, Plymouth, Kineton, Longtown, Beith, Glen Douglas and Crombie

-Defence Storage and Distribution Centres (DSDCs) at Bicester, Llangennech, Ashchurch and North (Stafford and Donnington)

-and DSDA (Germany) at Dülmen.

Each of the four head office directorates and 13 major installations are managed by a civilian or Service director. In addition, the Support Centres Directorate runs minor installations in the UK while DMC Kineton manages six UK ammunition compounds. DSDA (Germany) manages six units in Germany.

DSDA runs its own internal training organisation at Bicester and Donnington. These provide development across a wide spectrum of learning and skills to develop people for specific employments. In general, recruiting is decentralised. Jobs are usually advertised locally with the occasional use of national press. The MoD jobs website at www.jobs.mod.uk is also used.

Much recruiting is internal, through a job opportunities bulletin, and individuals can transfer to DSDA from other agencies and the MoD civil service. However, external recruitment takes place if there is no suitable internal candidate or the Agency is looking for recent private-sector experience.

In general, the Agency is ready to recruit ex-Service people with skills in:

-warehouse management

-driving – LGV/fork-lift truck

-IT systems.

It also needs specialists in HR, finance, planning, business management and a host of other functions. Recruiters accept applications for specific jobs, but also like to see CVs sent in with speculative covering letters explaining what the writer has to offer the Agency. They will be kept on file pending suitable vacancies arising.

Quest readers are invited to write to the Human Resources Departments at major DSDA units:

-DSDC Ashchurch, Tewkesbury, Glos GL20 8LZ

-DSDC Bicester, Bldg E15, Bicester, Oxon OX25 2LD

-DSDC North (Donnington), Telford, Salop TF2 8JT

-DSDC North (Stafford) RAF Stafford, Beaconside, Stafford ST18 OAQ

-DSDC Llangennech, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire SA14 8YP