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Patel questions barring PSUs from IAF's aircraft tender
9 Oct 2013, 0757 hrs IST, AGENCIES
Heavy Industries Minister Praful Patel has raised questions on the move to bar government PSUs from participating in the tender for supply of 56 transport aircrafts at an estimated cost of Rs 12,000 crore to the Indian Air Force.
In identical letters to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Defence Minister A K Antony, Patel has said that PSUs should be given an equal opportunity and level playing field and it would encourage healthy competition. "This being a government/public procurement, an equal opportunity and level playing field is required to be provided to all capable entities irrespective of being Public or 'Private' in nature. This will also encourage healthy competition," said Patel in his letter.
Antony as a head of the defence acquisition council (DAC) had approved the IAF proposal for procuring these aircraft sidelining the PSUs.
Patel, who also holds the Public Enterprises portfolio, further said: "There are many PSUs who meet all the prescribed criterion for participating in this tender, but are being denied the opportunity to participate in this tender only because they are PSUs".
The Indian Air Force has to acquire 56 transport aircrafts to replace its aging Avro fleet. In the tender, issued on May 9 this year, the defence ministry had bypassed PSUs as Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and said new aircraft will be produced by the Indian private sector firms. The tender was issued to eight foreign vendors including American Lockheed Martin, Swedish Saab, Russian Rosoboronexport, Spanish Airbus Military, Italian Alenia and Brazilian Embraer and they will have to find an Indian partner to produce 40 aircraft within India.
Indian majors such as Tata, Mahindra Defence Systems, Reliance Industries and L & T were expected to partner the bidding foreign partners for the programme. Patel said in the letter that the extensive facilities, infrastructure and capabilities of these PSUs have been created over a period of time through government investments.
These PSUs have also gained invaluable experience as well as expertise in this area.
"While the government's policy of encouraging private sector participation in Defence sector is appreciated, any preference/discrimination among potential Indian entities-Public or Private is likely to be construed as an act against spirit of public procurement particularly when capable PSUs are available to participate in this tender whereas there is no private company presently capable to undertake this work," he said.
Of the 56 aircrafts, the first 16 would be produced at the production facility of the foreign vendor while the remaining would be produced at the facilities of its Indian partner, sources said. The first 16 aircrafts to be produced in India will have to have 30 per cent indigenous component while the remaining 24 planes will have 60 per cent locally-procured and produced items, officials said.
They said the 56-aircraft project would help in developing a domestic aerospace industry and capability to undertake such projects...
Patel questions barring PSUs from IAF's aircraft tender- TIMESNOW.tv - Latest Breaking News, Big News Stories, News Videos
9 Oct 2013, 0757 hrs IST, AGENCIES
Heavy Industries Minister Praful Patel has raised questions on the move to bar government PSUs from participating in the tender for supply of 56 transport aircrafts at an estimated cost of Rs 12,000 crore to the Indian Air Force.
In identical letters to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Defence Minister A K Antony, Patel has said that PSUs should be given an equal opportunity and level playing field and it would encourage healthy competition. "This being a government/public procurement, an equal opportunity and level playing field is required to be provided to all capable entities irrespective of being Public or 'Private' in nature. This will also encourage healthy competition," said Patel in his letter.
Antony as a head of the defence acquisition council (DAC) had approved the IAF proposal for procuring these aircraft sidelining the PSUs.
Patel, who also holds the Public Enterprises portfolio, further said: "There are many PSUs who meet all the prescribed criterion for participating in this tender, but are being denied the opportunity to participate in this tender only because they are PSUs".
The Indian Air Force has to acquire 56 transport aircrafts to replace its aging Avro fleet. In the tender, issued on May 9 this year, the defence ministry had bypassed PSUs as Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and said new aircraft will be produced by the Indian private sector firms. The tender was issued to eight foreign vendors including American Lockheed Martin, Swedish Saab, Russian Rosoboronexport, Spanish Airbus Military, Italian Alenia and Brazilian Embraer and they will have to find an Indian partner to produce 40 aircraft within India.
Indian majors such as Tata, Mahindra Defence Systems, Reliance Industries and L & T were expected to partner the bidding foreign partners for the programme. Patel said in the letter that the extensive facilities, infrastructure and capabilities of these PSUs have been created over a period of time through government investments.
These PSUs have also gained invaluable experience as well as expertise in this area.
"While the government's policy of encouraging private sector participation in Defence sector is appreciated, any preference/discrimination among potential Indian entities-Public or Private is likely to be construed as an act against spirit of public procurement particularly when capable PSUs are available to participate in this tender whereas there is no private company presently capable to undertake this work," he said.
Of the 56 aircrafts, the first 16 would be produced at the production facility of the foreign vendor while the remaining would be produced at the facilities of its Indian partner, sources said. The first 16 aircrafts to be produced in India will have to have 30 per cent indigenous component while the remaining 24 planes will have 60 per cent locally-procured and produced items, officials said.
They said the 56-aircraft project would help in developing a domestic aerospace industry and capability to undertake such projects...
Patel questions barring PSUs from IAF's aircraft tender- TIMESNOW.tv - Latest Breaking News, Big News Stories, News Videos
