AFP shops for night-combat gear

THE ARMED Forces of the Philippines has allotted P1.1 billion for the purchase of night-fighting equipment for delivery next year, Col. Benjamin Hao said Sunday.

“With this equipment, we will augment our Vektor R4 assault rifles, helmets, force protection equipment. And our capacity for night fighting will be enhanced,” Hao said.

In an invitation to bid, the military said it will purchase 4,464 sets of the night fighting equipment for delivery in 180 days. The equipment consists of a night vision monocular that can be mounted on a helmet or weapon, an infrared aiming device, and a laser zeroing device for calibrating the aiming devices.

Interested parties may purchase bid documents from the Department of National Defense’s bids and awards committee (DND BAC) secretariat for a nonrefundable fee of P75,000.

The pre-bid conference will be held on Dec. 10 at the DND BAC conference room in Camp Aguinaldo. The opening of bids will be on Dec. 22.

The military requires that the type of equipment should have been used by the military of the country of origin, or by at least two other countries. Julie M. Aurelio