The complexity of a tender for a new hydrographic vessel for the SA Navy has seen the closing date extended by two months to allow potential bidders more time to finalise their bids.
Last October Armscor arranged a bidders’ conference for shipyards interested in replacing the SAS Protea. Representatives from 12 shipyards attended and after being provided with an in-depth look at the nuts and bolts of what Armscor termed “the supply of a hydrographic capability products system for the SA Navy”, they were given until last Friday (April 24) to submit tenders.
In addition to providing a new hydrographic platform for the maritime arm of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF), the successful tenderer will also be responsible for supplying a pair of inshore survey motorboats, integrated with the hydrographic vessel; a sea boat and a hangar-flight deck arrangement for a medium-sized maritime helicopter.
The original statement of work includes an upgrade to the current shore-based hydrographic office infrastructure at Silvermine and associated logistic support, including a spare motorboat, fully equipped and operationally qualified.
Armscor communications manager Fidel Hadebe this week confirmed the extension of the tender closing date to June 30.
“Tenders will be evaluated after this date and potential prime contractors identified. Only then will approval be sought from a higher authority,” he said.
The complexity of the project, which was the major reason for calling a bidder’s conference, and the approval process could take up to a year, he added.
This means the Navy will continue to operate its now 44-year-old hydrographic vessel for another four to five years before the replacement is ready to go to sea.
All shipyards at the bidders’ conference were Level Five offerers as set out in the Department of Defence system hierarchy.
At the time of publication the closing date for tenders for another Navy equipment requirement, that of three each inshore and offshore patrol vessels, was also June 30. This date was announced during a bidders’ conference held in Simon’s Town in March and attended by representatives of local and foreign shipyards.
