R1B earmarked for Army’s night-time fighting equipment

The government will spend over 1 billion to acquire night fighting system (NFS) to further enhance the Philippine Army’s capabilities.

An invitation to bid signed by Assistant Secretary Ernesto D. Boac, chairman of the Department of National Defense (DND) Bids and Awards Committee (DND BAC), showed that 1.116 billion has been allotted to acquire 4,464 sets of brand-new NFS.

This project is seen to improve the Army infantry’s capability to fight at night or in low light environment as the NFS include a night vision monocular, an infrared aiming device, and a laser zeroing device.

The DND BAC said the winning bidder must deliver the goods within a period of 180 calendar days.

A pre-bid conference is scheduled on December 10 at 10:00 a.m. at the DND BAC Conference Room, left wing, basement, DND building in Camp Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo.

Bid opening will be on December 22 at 10:00 a.m. in the same venue.

“Bids will be opened in the presence of bidders’ representatives who choose to attend. Late bids shall not be accepted,” said the DND BAC.

To qualify, the DND BAC said that bidders should have completed, within five years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the project.

Further, it said that the goods being offered must be used by the Armed Forces of the country of origin or by the Armed Forces of at least two other countries.

The goods offered must be from suppliers who are themselves the manufacturers.

Col. Benjamin Hao, Army spokesman, said the project is part of the first horizon of the Philippine Army modernization program.