The Department of National Defense (DND) has stood firm on its final decision to disqualify Kolon Global Corp., a Korean company, who submitted a product that was found to be inferior and sub-standard in connection with the bidding for the supply of 44,080 pieces of armor vests.
In a press briefing with members of the Bulacan PNP Press Corps (BPCC) on Tuesday morning, Assistant Secretary Efren Q. Fernandez, DND bids and awards committee (BAC) chairman, said their decision strictly followed the implementation of Republic Act 9184 (Phil. Gov't. Electronic Procurement Services Act) based on the findings of the Assessment/Post-Qualification body headed by Ret. General Essel Soriano, the highest technical working group representing the Philippine Army and Marines.
Fernandez told BPPC members that the DND's announcement was made to correct the misleading news reports being peddled by Kolon which offered an armor vest, whose metal plate, upon measurement was found to be technically non-compliant as required in the bid document, hence, it was declared substandard and inferior in quality.
He said that the bidding for the supply of 44,080 pieces armor vests for the use of Army and Marines worth P1.76 billion started last year and bids were opened last April with four companies emerging as lowest qualified bidders, namely, Kolon of Korea; Merkata of Serbia; JV Achidatex Nazareth Elite of Israel; and MKU Private Ltd. Of
“As in other departments of the government, the mere fact that one submitted the lowest bid does not automatically entitle the bidder to be awarded the project if its product fails in the post-qualification, assessment and analysis which is the most crucial stage of the bidding process," Fernandez, who once served as provincial commander of the PC-INP in Bulacan, said.
He said the work of the DND-BAC and its process was very transparent from Day 1 in line with the order of Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin.
He said they cannot compromise the safety and lives of the soldiers who are engaged in armed conflict and battle.
“Although financial consideration is also important, we must understand the very purpose of the product we are buying is for the protection of the vital body part of our soldiers. A soldier killed because of an inferior or sub-standard vest cannot be equated to the money saved from a flawed bidding,” he added.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=593163
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