3 firms interested in P216-M Navy project

MANILA, Philippines - Three companies have expressed interest to undertake the P216-million upgrade project of the Navy’s patrol vessel BRP Artemio Ricarte.

The STAR learned yesterday that the three companies are Colorado Shipyard, Keppel Marine Philippines Inc. and FF Cruz & Co. Inc.

It remains uncertain as to whether these companies would submit bids for the  project.

One of the Navy’s three Jacinto-class ships, the Ricarte   is currently deployed within the Manila-Cavite area.

The other two are BRP Apolinario Mabini and BRP Emilio Jacinto, both of which can be used for maritime patrols and interdiction.

The P216-million project constitutes the second phase of the Jacinto-class patrol vessels’ marine engineering upgrade project.

It will include hull repairs and the improvement of the ship’s electrical plant and control and monitoring systems.

The first phase was completed in 2005 and involved the upgrading of command and control systems and installation of cannons, compass and radars, among other equipment.

To be qualified, prospective bidders must have completed a similar contract within five years from the submission of bids.

A complete set of bid documents may be purchased from the defense department’s Bids and Awards Committee for P50,000.

They may also be downloaded from the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System website provided that the bidder will pay for them before the submission of bids.

Late bids as well as those that are higher than the approved budget will be rejected.