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TENDER PROCESS
Page 16
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It's been over a year since the MoD published its original tender document, says Ted McQuinn. Clarification of some of the details was needed, so an amended version appeared in November 2002. The S&S consortium made its original submission last June, and has responded to the amended document too. Working through the Defence Procurement Agency, the MoD is now evaluating all the bids made for the order.
"They're considering everything from the initial cost of the truck to likely maintenance expenditure and fuel consumption," McQuinn says. "They're also looking at where it will be made, and whether UK labour will be involved."
After this analysis they'll select a preferred bidder for the order, and the bidder will submit trucks for physical trials. The preferred bidder for the order is likely to be announced late spring, and the contract awarded late summer. The MoD will purchase the vehicles rather than lease them, McQuinn says.
Stewart & Stevenson is in competition with MAN, Mercedes and Oshkosh for the contract, Mercedes will have an example of one of the trucks It Is submitting on its stand at the CV Show in March. Paccar (Oaf and Feder') dropped out of the running last year.
The 4)(4, 6x6, and 8x8 six, nine, and 15-tonne trucks and recovery vehicles that make up the S&S tender are based on the FMTV Al, but with one or two differences. The cab specified by the MoD has to be able to resist rollover impact better and has a reduced radar signature, improving its chances of avoiding detection by the enemy. The latter technology comes courtesy of Multidrive.