Defence Ministry scraps Coast Guard tender for choppers

[sudhir007]

Defence Ministry scraps Coast Guard tender for choppers | idrw.org

Coast Guard’s plan to boost its maritime surveillance capabilities will have to wait as the Defence Ministry has scrapped its tender to procure 16 light helicopters.

Only two companies — Indian Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), offering its ALH Dhruv, and European Eurocopter with its twin-engine Panther MB — were in the race for the deal expected to be worth over Rs 1,000 crore.

The tender, issued in July last year, was cancelled by the Defence Ministry after it was found that the helicopter offered by Eurocopter was not compliant with one of the request for proposal requirements, Defence Ministry officials told PTI here

With only ALH Dhruv left in the race, the ministry could not go ahead as single-vendor tenders are not allowed by the Defence Procurement Procedure of the ministry, they said.



The procurement was part of Coast Guard’s efforts to enhance its capabilities to tackle terrorism and other threats emanating from sea and to prevent any 26/11-type attacks.

The Coast Guard is now planning to issue a fresh tender with new and reviewed specifications in the first quarter of 2013.

In the aftermath of 26/11 attacks, government had cleared several proposals to enhance Coast Guard’s aerial surveillance capabilities and had sanctioned acquisition of both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.

However, tenders for procuring six maritime surveillance aircraft and dry-leasing 16 helicopters from foreign companies have been scrapped due to one reason or the other in the last four years.

Coast Guard wanted the helicopters to be equipped with surveillance devices to carry out search and rescue roles in coastal areas.

 

[Terminator]

Defence Ministry scraps Coast Guard tender for choppers | idrw.org

Coast Guard’s plan to boost its maritime surveillance capabilities will have to wait as the Defence Ministry has scrapped its tender to procure 16 light helicopters.

Only two companies — Indian Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), offering its ALH Dhruv, and European Eurocopter with its twin-engine Panther MB — were in the race for the deal expected to be worth over Rs 1,000 crore.

The tender, issued in July last year, was cancelled by the Defence Ministry after it was found that the helicopter offered by Eurocopter was not compliant with one of the request for proposal requirements, Defence Ministry officials told PTI here

With only ALH Dhruv left in the race, the ministry could not go ahead as single-vendor tenders are not allowed by the Defence Procurement Procedure of the ministry, they said.



The procurement was part of Coast Guard’s efforts to enhance its capabilities to tackle terrorism and other threats emanating from sea and to prevent any 26/11-type attacks.

The Coast Guard is now planning to issue a fresh tender with new and reviewed specifications in the first quarter of 2013.

In the aftermath of 26/11 attacks, government had cleared several proposals to enhance Coast Guard’s aerial surveillance capabilities and had sanctioned acquisition of both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.

However, tenders for procuring six maritime surveillance aircraft and dry-leasing 16 helicopters from foreign companies have been scrapped due to one reason or the other in the last four years.

Coast Guard wanted the helicopters to be equipped with surveillance devices to carry out search and rescue roles in coastal areas.

Why not DHRUV allowed on negotiation basis, at least this much preference shall be given to an Indian bidder.???

 

[Raje amar]

this is PATHETIC........

why MoD cant have a single party when the product is MADE IN INDIA while they order the product from single source under the name of Forgin millitary sale???????????

i hate the love of MoD for forgin equipment. i wish they should not allow compitative beading of any equipment which have a MADE IN INDIA & INDEGINOUS option. GOI & MoD must decide to open all the defence sector to Indian Privet sector.

 

[Abingdonboy]

This is annoying but I get it (for once!!)- with the Panther not measuring up a sole bidder (ALH) cannot procced alone going by MoD procurement rules. Hopefully next time more bidders enter and their products meet the criteria and the deal actually goes through.

To be fair, these procedures are in place to counter any corruption or allegations of corupption that could take place so it is reasonable in my eyes. Irronically these days India is probobly one of the fairest and cleanest arms buyers on the planet! Look at sooo many other countries even those perceived to be clean they are taking or giving HUGE bribes wrt defence procurement left right and centre. And if it isn't direct cash handouts then it is bowing to polticial pressure which no one could accuse India of. India is one of the few defence markets where the sole reasoning behind any defence proucrement is merit and consitanlty the best of the bunch is picked in ever catergory (it isn't a coincidence!!).



So we can rant and rave but these procedures are nessercary to protect the MoD, the GoI , the OEM etc from such accusations and ensure the military gets the best it possibly can, but of course it takes too long. Lately certain defence deals have moved forward very fast and I hope this trend continues.

 

[ajtr]

This is annoying but I get it (for once!!)- with the Panther not measuring up a sole bidder (ALH) cannot procced alone going by MoD procurement rules. Hopefully next time more bidders enter and their products meet the criteria and the deal actually goes through.

To be fair, these procedures are in place to counter any corruption or allegations of corupption that could take place so it is reasonable in my eyes. Irronically these days India is probobly one of the fairest and cleanest arms buyers on the planet! Look at sooo many other countries even those perceived to be clean they are taking or giving HUGE bribes wrt defence procurement left right and centre. And if it isn't direct cash handouts then it is bowing to polticial pressure which no one could accuse India of. India is one of the few defence markets where the sole reasoning behind any defence proucrement is merit and consitanlty the best of the bunch is picked in ever catergory (it isn't a coincidence!!).



So we can rant and rave but these procedures are nessercary to protect the MoD, the GoI , the OEM etc from such accusations and ensure the military gets the best it possibly can, but of course it takes too long. Lately certain defence deals have moved forward very fast and I hope this trend continues.

Then how come FMS deal can be justified ?

 

[Abingdonboy]

Then how come FMS deal can be justified ?

I knew this was comming! That is different because it starts off as a government-government deal where there are seperate criteria and checks in place. Deals like this one for the ICG start out as open tenders that reqruie multiple tenders and bidders to proceed otherwise it is a sole-bidder process and this is a recipe for disaster as many nations (including India) have found out to their detriment. India will not do a govt-govt deal with just anyone, the FMS route has significant checks and balances in place.

 

[sancho]

Why not DHRUV allowed on negotiation basis, at least this much preference shall be given to an Indian bidder.???

As the article shows, HAL has offered the Dhruv, but since the EC Panther was not fulfillinge the RFP requirements (and it would be interesting to know which one), Dhruv was left as the only one in the competiton. But as we all know, a competition must include at least 2 vendors, otherwise it makes no sense.

Indian arms and techs should be given preference, especially in the minor forces like ICG or BSF, but even here they must fulfill certain requirements and just like IN has an issue with the naval Dhruv, ICG might have it too (folding wings, range, enginepower of their early versions).
ICG shouldn't follow INs example with N-LCA and induct an indigenous aircraft because of pride reasons.