Joint venture wins bidding for supply of AFP protection gear

MANILA, Philippines - A joint venture between Israeli firm Achidatex Nazareth Elite and local company Colorado Shipyard Corp. has won the bidding to supply 44,080 sets of force protection equipment for soldiers.

The STAR learned over the weekend that the Department of National Defense (DND) issued the notice of award to the joint venture last July 28.

The project involves the acquisition of 44,080 sets of force protection equipment for Army and Marine troops. The equipment will protect soldiers who are serving on the frontlines of security operations.

The government has allotted P1.763 billion for the project.

Sources said the DND will save around P300,000 if the deal with Achidatex and Colorado pushes through.

The joint venture, however, was not the lowest bidder for the project.

During the opening of bids held last year, South Korean firm Kolon Global Corp. submitted the lowest bid, offering to supply the equipment for P894 million. The bid price would have allowed the government to save P870,000.

The bids and awards committee, however, disqualified Kolon after the company failed to meet some requirements during the post-qualification phase.

A defense department post-qualification team said Kolon’s goods did not meet certain standards aimed at ensuring the protection of soldiers in the field. The team said all ballistic inserts of samples submitted by Kolon did not conform to dimensional requirements since they have shorter measurements.