Huey third rebidding draws four bidders

From the Manila Standard Today (Aug 23): Huey third rebidding draws four bidders

Four bidders are taking part in the third re-bidding of 21 second-hand military  helicopters (Huey) worth P1.2 billion as part of the project to improve the capability of the Philippine Air Force, documents show.

The re-bidding of the long-stalled project was held on August 16 at the conference room of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Department of National Defense based in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Documents show that those  that attended the pre-bidding include RADOM Aviation Systems Ltd., ST Aerospace/Singapore Technologies Aerotech, Vector Aerospace, and Stone of David Tactical Equipment Company.

The firm Hanwha sat as an observer.

An official privy to the bidding  said all the bidders had bought bid documents and the next bidding conference would be the opening of bid documents for the BAC to select the lowest bidder.

In the last bidding, the BAC disqualified the Rice Aircraft Services Inc.  after it found    its bidding documents were not in order.

A second source said there are some defense personalities who are allegedly “manipulating”  the bidding process to favor one of the new set of bidders.

“It’s unfair if I will mention that supposed bidder being favored by at least two influential defense personalities. We’ve information though that this company was allegedly being convinced by these personalities to join in the bidding,” the source said.

Weeks before the May 2013 synchronized local and national elections, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin  said the helicopters  could possibly be delivered in time for the elections to boost PAF’s air power.

But the supposed delivery did not materialize.

The helicopter project is part of the P75 billion budget approved by President Benigno Aquino III to upgrade the military capability specially for territorial defense.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/08/23/huey-third-rebidding-draws-four-bidders/