Polish MoD Makes Third Attempt for a Massive 4x4 Vehicle Purchase

The announcement issued on 14th August means that the military is making the third attempt at acquiring the high mobility Mustang passenger-cargo vehicles. Delivery of 900 vehicles within the period between 2019 and 2022 is a subject of the order. This includes 859 cars in non-armoured variety along with 41 armoured examples. In case of the previous tender, that had been going on since July 2017, the Inspectorate was trying to acquire 913 vehicles in total.

The cars should be brand new, according to the requirements of the Armament Inspectorate. However, it is permissible to acquire vehicles manufactured during the second semester of the year preceding the delivery year. In case of the previous procedure the Armament Inspectorate had required the production date to match the delivery year. All vehicles should also come in 4×4 layout. The Army also allows the option of using an RWD solution with optional AWD setting of the drivetrain.

The new procurement procedure also assumes that the non-armoured variant should be tailored to carry 6 persons plus a driver which is a key requirement change, when compared to the requirements defining the previous tender. What’s most important - the change may translate into facilitated submission of more offers by a greater number of potential contractors. The number of passengers has not been modified - in case of the armoured variant we’re still dealing with a 4+1 layout, including the driver. 

The allowable total weight of the version without armour is still defined as 3.5 tonnes. The non-armoured variant is to offer 1 tonne of usable payload, with 600 kilograms applicable to the armoured variety. The vehicle is to be powered by a diesel engine and it is to be characterized by power-to-weight ratio no lower than 35 kW per tonne, in line with the PN-S-02014:1994 norm. The acquired vehicles should also have a wading capability of at least 0.5 metre (without preparation) and 0.65 m if some preparation steps are taken.

Furthermore, they are also to be fitted with a winch the towing capacity equal to at least of 100% of the total allowable weight, with rope which would be at least 25 metres long. Wheels of the cars in the armoured variant should feature run-flat tyres. The minimum protection level has been defined as level 1 in line with STANAG 4569 Annexes A and B (respectively for being bulletproof and explosion-proof).

What is more, the Armament Inspectorate suggested that the subject of the agreement is to include rendering of repair, servicing and maintenance services at authorized workshop within and beyond the Polish borders, as indicated by the contractor.

Third Time Lucky!

The value of the order has been set at the level above EUR 443 thousand. Let us recall the fact that the Armament Inspectorate made a decision to cancel the previous procedure concerning the high mobility cargo-passenger vehicles due to the fact that one of the final offers had a cost associated with it that exceeded the limit set. Eight entities were invited to place their offers. The offer in question was placed by a consortium formed by Polski Holding Obronny [leader] and the Concept company based in Bielsko-Biała. The offer covered delivery of DINO family vehicles, with a pricetag of PLN 524.171 million. The military wanted to cover the acquisition with an amount of PLN 239.038 million. The amount in question exceeded the budget by 119 percent.

The first procedure that had been going on since 2015, following two-years long analytical-conceptual phase, ended up being cancelled in June 2017. The Inspectorate received only one final offer back then. The proposal placed by a consortium formed by PGZ and WZM had a pricetag exceeding PLN 2 billion, while the Inspectorate’s budget was set at the level close to the one adopted in case of the procedure cancelled this year. 

Right to exercise an option is also a possible way to go for the Armament Inspectorate. The maximum number of Honker replacements that could be delivered, thanks to the right to exercise an option, is defined as 812 examples, while deliveries are scheduled to take place between 2019 and 2022. Earlier on it had been assumed that optional procurement of up to 2787 non-armoured cars would be possible.

Again, the procurement is being carried out in line with a limited procedure. The Inspectorate assumes that 10 contractors is the maximum number of entities that could place their offers. Price has been selected as the most important selection criterion, with weight of 65. Guarantee period (weight of 5), ground clearance in line with PN-ISO-612:2016 (weight of 10), power to weight ratio defined in line with PN-S-02014:1994 (weight of 10) and monocoque bodywork (the passenger compartment and passenger-cargo compartment are formed by one geometric body) have also been listed among the requirements. Engine chamber design is irrelevant (weight of 10).

The submissions can be made until 29th September 2018, 10 AM. The order is to be delivered immediately until 31st October 2022 in case of the non-armoured variant and until 29th October 2021, in case of the armoured version.

Mustang cars are to replace the obsolete Honkers and post-Soviet UAZ-469B cars. The analytical work concerning this procurement has been going on since 2013. Cancellation of the previous two procurement processes was related to the specific nature of the requirements that were hard to be complied with by the vehicles available. The current tender does not include the assumption that a non-armoured 3.5 tonnes vehicle would carry 8 soldiers, together with the driver. Instead, the vehicle is required to be able to carry 6 soldiers plus a driver, which may make it easier for the bidders to comply with the requirements. However, the Polish military is still willing to acquire a small number of armoured vehicles unified with the non-armoured variant.