Defense, AFP to spend P18.28B for 4-year fuel needs

MANILA, Philippines - The government is spending P18.28-billion for the fuel requirements of the Defense department and the military for the next four years.

A bid bulletin signed by Defense Assistant Secretary Efren Fernandez showed that the project would involve petroleum, oil and lubricants for the years 2014 to 2017.

The project has been divided into six lots.

Lot 1 involves the fuel requirements for units in Metro Manila and has an approved budget of P2.39-billion. Lot 2 entails the procurement of fuel requirements for Luzon with a budget of P4.58-billion.

Meanwhile, P1.86 billion has been allotted for lot 3, which pertains to the fuel requirements for Visayas units. Lot 4 or the fuel requirements for troops in Mindanao has been given P5.47-billion.

Fuel requirements for military units with a national scope constitute lot 5, which has been allotted a P3.65-billion outlay. Lot 6 or the fuel requirements for the Defense department requires P321 million

The Defense department and the Armed Forces of the Philippines are now inviting prospective bidders to participate in the project.

The fuel requirements will be procured through public bidding in compliance with the implementing rules of the procurement law.

The bidding is open to Filipino citizens and sole proprietorships and organizations with at least 60-percent interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to Philippine citizens.

It is also open to citizens or organizations of a country whose laws and regulations grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens.

A complete set of bidding documents is now available from the Bids and Awards Committee Secretariat for P75,000.

The deadline for the submission of bids is on Dec. 10 at 10 a.m. Late bids as well as those that exceed the approved budget will be rejected.

The bids will be opened on the same day. The company that offered the lowest bid will advance to the post-qualification phase, which seeks to validate the documents submitted by the bidder. – Alexis Romero