By William B Depasupil
The Department of National Defence (DND) has opened the bidding for a P5.4bn contract to supply the Philippine Navy with anti-submarine helicopters.
Defence Undersecretary Natalio Ecarma, chairman of the DND-Bids and Awards Committee, said the budget for the project has been approved under the Medium-Term Development Capability Plan.
“The DND invites sealed bids for the acquisition of two anti-submarine helicopters with munitions, mission essential equipment and integrated logistics support for the Philippine Navy,” Ecarma said.
Under the terms of the contract, the winning bidder must deliver the aircraft within 730 days or two years and 17 days from the time of the awarding.
Participating supplier firms, Ecarma pointed out, must also be the manufacturers of anti-submarine helicopters.
The aircraft must be used by the armed forces of the country of origin or by the armed forces of at least two other countries.
The bidding will be in two stages using non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified under the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act.
The DND will hold the first stage pre-bid conference on October 7.
The date for the second bidding will be announced later.
Ecarma said bids would be opened in the presence of bidders’ representatives who choose to attend.
Earlier, the Defence department invested P11bn for two long-range patrol aircraft and six close-air support planes, which the Philippine Air Force will use to patrol the country’s territorial boundaries.
In March, it awarded a P18.9bn contract to Korea Aerospace Industries for the supply of 12 FA-50 training fighter jets and another P4.8bn for eight utility helicopters from the Canadian
Commercial Corp.
