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Chindits: Exclusive: Cabinet Clears VVIP Choppers With Deviations, DPB Flouts DPP By Approving Agusta
I broke this story in Mail Today, in July 2008, that the Government was going ahead with commercial negotiations with Agusta Westland, despite deviations found in the chopper, and a single vendor situation was emerging. The single vendor situation was averted, but the deal has landed with Agusta.
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), has cleared the procurement of 12 AW-101 helicopters from Augusta Westland which had been found to be having deviations as per the laid down parameters in the tender.
The contract for the 900 million US dollar deal, for the choppers mainly for VVIP travel, is to be signed shortly for the same.
The Anglo-European Agusta Westland AW-101, earlier called EH101 (until June 2007) is a medium-lift helicopter primarily for military use but also used for civilian purpose.
The multi-role utility helicopter was zeroed in on by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), at the suggestion of the Indian Air Force (IAF), who had earlier built up a case for the deal citing paucity of time and thereby accepting what was available rather than waste time in a possible re-tender, in what was being seen as flouting the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP-2006). AW-101 was found to be having one deviation short of its competitor American firm Sikorsky in the required parameters as per the tender.
AW-101 as against Sikorsky's H-92, was found with deviations in the general service qualitative requirements and was also not being able to fulfill the 'ceiling height' parameter.
Requests For Proposal (RFPs) or tenders were sent out in December 2006 to seven helicopter makers, and responses came in February 2007. US firm Sikorsky with its H-92 chopper and the Anglo-European Agusta Westland with its AW-101 were shortlisted. Both failed to make the cut, as both had deviations, though Agusta had one deviation short than its competitor Sikorsky, which was seen as reason enough for its selection, according to sources.
A single vendor situation was emerging with AW-101 coming out a winner, but it was averted, as per the procurement procedure, a single vendor situation is to be avoided in the eventuality of which the tender is to be retracted and a fresh one issued. The Defence Procurement Board (DPB), approved the selection of AW-101, as against Sikorsky H-92, with deviations in it.
The pressure on the Ministry of Defence (MoD) was apparent, especially since the existing fleet of Soviet-origin Mi-17 and Mi-8 helicopters that currently fly the President, Vice President, Prime Minister and other dignitaries, draws close to its retirement. These helicopters were inducted in 1982 and are due for retirement.
Old faithful, Russia's Mil, the maker of Mi-8 and Mi-17 helicopters also responded to the tender but was rejected on grounds of its unwillingness to sign the mandatory integrity pact and to deposit the Earnest Money Deposit (EMD).
Sources have disclosed that a month later Russia agreed to accept the Integrity Pact and the Earnest Money Deposit clauses, with which they had reservations earlier, and also the Russian choppers would have been cheaper comparatively. The hurried decision of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) landed them with no option, added the source.
Of the 40 mandatory qualitative requirements listed in the tender keeping the safety of VVIPs in mind, both shortlisted contenders were found wanting in the following parameters:
* Both Sikorsky and Agusta Westland did not provide the missile warning system.
* The warranty which should be either three years or 900 hours, was offered by neither.
* As per the tender the trials of the helicopters should be held in the country where they would be ultimately flown in. Both vendors stepped down as far as fielding the choppers in India for trials was concerned.
* Sikorsky, according to sources, was not ready to provide the package of product support which has been stipulated in the RFP (tender). Instead, it offered a "Total Assured Programme", which was not solicited.
Agusta, according to sources, has been finalized as it has one deviation short compared to Sikorsky. However it also lacks the 'ceiling height' parameter.
The last RFP which was floated during the NDA rule was cancelled owing to the single vendor situation. Former National Security Advisor (NSA), Brajesh Mishra, is reported to have written to the then Air Chief, conveying very strictly that a single vendor situation is to be avoided in the case of VVIP movement keeping the security aspect in mind. Misra had objected to European consortium's Eurocopter helicopter, which had not just become a single vendor but also could not fulfill some service requirements.
The Indian Air Force (IAF), the principle operator of VVIP transport aircraft and helicopters, is understood to have been building a case to make the government accept what is available, rather than waste time with a possible re-tender.
Other requirements for the helicopters are that they would have to be powered by either two or three-engines and also be equipped with advanced avionics and night-flying capabilities.
I broke this story in Mail Today, in July 2008, that the Government was going ahead with commercial negotiations with Agusta Westland, despite deviations found in the chopper, and a single vendor situation was emerging. The single vendor situation was averted, but the deal has landed with Agusta.
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), has cleared the procurement of 12 AW-101 helicopters from Augusta Westland which had been found to be having deviations as per the laid down parameters in the tender.
The contract for the 900 million US dollar deal, for the choppers mainly for VVIP travel, is to be signed shortly for the same.
The Anglo-European Agusta Westland AW-101, earlier called EH101 (until June 2007) is a medium-lift helicopter primarily for military use but also used for civilian purpose.
The multi-role utility helicopter was zeroed in on by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), at the suggestion of the Indian Air Force (IAF), who had earlier built up a case for the deal citing paucity of time and thereby accepting what was available rather than waste time in a possible re-tender, in what was being seen as flouting the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP-2006). AW-101 was found to be having one deviation short of its competitor American firm Sikorsky in the required parameters as per the tender.
AW-101 as against Sikorsky's H-92, was found with deviations in the general service qualitative requirements and was also not being able to fulfill the 'ceiling height' parameter.
Requests For Proposal (RFPs) or tenders were sent out in December 2006 to seven helicopter makers, and responses came in February 2007. US firm Sikorsky with its H-92 chopper and the Anglo-European Agusta Westland with its AW-101 were shortlisted. Both failed to make the cut, as both had deviations, though Agusta had one deviation short than its competitor Sikorsky, which was seen as reason enough for its selection, according to sources.
A single vendor situation was emerging with AW-101 coming out a winner, but it was averted, as per the procurement procedure, a single vendor situation is to be avoided in the eventuality of which the tender is to be retracted and a fresh one issued. The Defence Procurement Board (DPB), approved the selection of AW-101, as against Sikorsky H-92, with deviations in it.
The pressure on the Ministry of Defence (MoD) was apparent, especially since the existing fleet of Soviet-origin Mi-17 and Mi-8 helicopters that currently fly the President, Vice President, Prime Minister and other dignitaries, draws close to its retirement. These helicopters were inducted in 1982 and are due for retirement.
Old faithful, Russia's Mil, the maker of Mi-8 and Mi-17 helicopters also responded to the tender but was rejected on grounds of its unwillingness to sign the mandatory integrity pact and to deposit the Earnest Money Deposit (EMD).
Sources have disclosed that a month later Russia agreed to accept the Integrity Pact and the Earnest Money Deposit clauses, with which they had reservations earlier, and also the Russian choppers would have been cheaper comparatively. The hurried decision of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) landed them with no option, added the source.
Of the 40 mandatory qualitative requirements listed in the tender keeping the safety of VVIPs in mind, both shortlisted contenders were found wanting in the following parameters:
* Both Sikorsky and Agusta Westland did not provide the missile warning system.
* The warranty which should be either three years or 900 hours, was offered by neither.
* As per the tender the trials of the helicopters should be held in the country where they would be ultimately flown in. Both vendors stepped down as far as fielding the choppers in India for trials was concerned.
* Sikorsky, according to sources, was not ready to provide the package of product support which has been stipulated in the RFP (tender). Instead, it offered a "Total Assured Programme", which was not solicited.
Agusta, according to sources, has been finalized as it has one deviation short compared to Sikorsky. However it also lacks the 'ceiling height' parameter.
The last RFP which was floated during the NDA rule was cancelled owing to the single vendor situation. Former National Security Advisor (NSA), Brajesh Mishra, is reported to have written to the then Air Chief, conveying very strictly that a single vendor situation is to be avoided in the case of VVIP movement keeping the security aspect in mind. Misra had objected to European consortium's Eurocopter helicopter, which had not just become a single vendor but also could not fulfill some service requirements.
The Indian Air Force (IAF), the principle operator of VVIP transport aircraft and helicopters, is understood to have been building a case to make the government accept what is available, rather than waste time with a possible re-tender.
Other requirements for the helicopters are that they would have to be powered by either two or three-engines and also be equipped with advanced avionics and night-flying capabilities.
