Long-ranged patrol aircrafts bidding fails—DND

MANILA, Philippines—After nearly half-a-day of bidding and examining documents, the Department of National Defense declared that the bidders failed to get the contract for the acquisition of two long-ranged patrol aircrafts (LRPA).

Arsenio Andolong, DND Public Affairs Office chief, said that the seven contractors who submitted bid papers had problems in their documents, which prompted the DND to fail all the bidders for P5.9-billion project.

“All of the seven bidders were declared non-compliant due various infirmities in their documents,” Andolong said Tuesday.

Companies EADS/CASA Airbus Defense and Space, Elta Systems Ltd., Elbit Systems Ltd., Saab Asia Pacific Co. Ltd., PT Dirgantara Indonesia (Persero) Indonesian Aerospace, Lockheed Martin and Mission Integration were the seven companies from the initial 10 who have submitted their papers.

Bidders began their work Monday morning and ended late evening of the same day.

Andolong added the incumbent bidders, and new ones who would express interest, have until Thursday to submit new papers for the project.

Money from the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Act Trust Fund would be used to purchase the aircrafts.

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