PNP concludes public bidding for 59,940 guns

Philippine National Police, through its Bids and Awards Committee conducted a public bidding Thursday at the National Headquarters for its procurement of 59,904 units of 9mm pistols to fill in 100 percent of PNP handgun requirement. Jamie Marie Elona

MANILA, Philippines—Philippine National Police’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) have concluded the public bidding for the organization’s procurement of 59,940 units of short firearms with the bid of P973,679,616 as the cheapest among the offers.

During the public bidding held at the PNP National Headquarters for units of calibre 9mm pistol concluded around 5 p.m., R. Espineli Trading/Israel Weapons Industry topped the list as the lowest bidder with its Jericho 941 PL pistols, followed by Trust Trade with P997, 997, 045.76 for its Glock 17 Gen 4 pistols.

Next on the list were Counter Measure/Kolonwell Trading with P1,064,959,534.08 for its CZ 75 P-07 pistols; and Armscor with P1,197,960,192 for its Tanfoglio pistols.

The bid of Armaments, on the other hand, was not opened because their offer is “not competitive.”

While R. Espineli had technically won the bidding, Deputy Director General Emelito Sarmiento, deputy chief for operations and BAC chairman, earlier said “the company that will be evaluated as the lowest calculated bidder [LCB] will have to undergo post-qualification including the 20,000 rounds “endurance test” to ensure the reliability and durability of the item,” he said.

If R. Espinel’s items will be found defective after the product testing procedure, the company shall be “post disqualified” and the bidder with the second lowest offer will then be considered for the same endurance test.

“[Some] 5,000 rounds will be fired per day,” Director for Research and Development Felipe Roxas said.

Deputy Director General Emelito Sarmiento, deputy chief for operations (TDCO) and BAC chairman, earlier said this bidding will be “one of the largest procurements” of the PNP since the Capability Enhancement Program was established. The BAC undertakes the procurement process and ensures compliance with the law particularly RA 9184, or “Government Procurement Reform Act.”

The bidding, he said, was made public “to ensure integrity and objectivity” in all transactions of PNP and to promote transparency and accountability between PNP and the public.

PNP’s approved budget was set to P1.198 billion to fill in 100 percent of the PNP handgun requirement, BAC said.

On a Pre-Bid Conference conducted on June 7, at least seven companies expressed their interests to join the public bidding for the said item, but two of which, were disqualified Thursday for their failure to submit their product samples.