Foreign firms appeal bids for P5.98-B patrol aircraft deal

MANILA, Philippines — Seven foreign firms formally filed motions for reconsideration Monday on the failure of bidding for the planned P5.98-billion acquisition of long range patrol aircrafts.

The Department of National Defense's bids committee declared a failure last August 11 due to various "infirmities" of the participants' required documents.

DND undersecretary Fernando Manalo, chairman of the DND Special Bids and Awards Committee, said that recommendations on the motions for reconsideration will soon be submitted to Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin.

Seven companies submitted offers for the project, which seeks to enhance the Philippines’ maritime domain awareness.

These include EADS/CASA Airbus Defense and Space of Spain; Elta Systems Ltd. and Elbit Systems Ltd., both from Israel;  Saab Asia Pacific Co. Ltd. of Sweden; PT Dirgantara Indonesia (Persero) Indonesian Aerospace of Indonesia; Lockheed Martin and L3 Mission Integration, both from the United States.

Of the seven bidders, only Elta Systems Ltd. and Elbit Systems Ltd. met the eligibility requirements. The other bidders had deficiencies in their eligibility documents, including failure to present a list of completed contracts similar to the long range patrol acquisition project.

Also read: DND bidding for P5.98B patrol aircraft fails

Elta and Elbit, however, failed to hurdle the next phase of the bidding, which involves the technical aspects of the aircraft they are offering.

The DND is planning to procure two long range patrol aircrafts for the Philippine Air Force.

In its supplemental bulletin, prospective bidders were told to submit aircraft designs with systems that allow autonomous operation in remote bases.

The bulletin states that the system should be able to ensure electrical, pneumatic and hydraulic power on ground and to start the engines without ground support.

A noise reduction system eliminating buzzes, rattles and cabin vibration is also stated in the draft contract. - with Camille Diola and PNA