DND restarts — yet again — plan to buy 1,500 truckA program to buy new trucks for the Canadian Forces, already years behind schedule, is back to square one with the government announcement that it intends on reopening the bidding process.
https://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/restarts+again+plan+trucks/5792401/story.html
A program to replace rusting 1980s-era military transport trucks for the Canadian Forces, already years behind schedule, is back to square one with the government announcing Friday its intention to re-open bidding.
The estimated $800-million project to replace rusting 1980s-era military transport trucks was announced in 2006 by then defence minister Gordon O’Connor. But the project has now fallen six years behind schedule, raising new questions from industry representatives about why the Defence Department’s procurement system can’t handle a relatively straightforward purchase of army trucks.
The trucks, known as standard military pattern vehicles, were supposed to be delivered in 2008. The project was considered a priority because the vehicles they were to replace had become a safety hazard, with faulty brakes and excessive rust.
But the government has told companies that the process is being restarted and eight types of trucks that had been qualified for the program are now out. The process is being re-opened for competition, stated a message Public Works and Government Services Canada sent to industry on Friday.
Companies were told that there has been “further refinements in the technical specification” that has “prompted the decision to rescind” the original decision to approve the eight trucks for potential bidding.
“This refined approach will ensure maximum competition,” Public Works added.
Public Works officials could not provide comment.
DND spokeswoman Kathleen Guillot noted that the plan is to issue a request for proposals to companies some time this month.
However, the program has now fallen at least six years behind schedule with the first truck to be delivered in the spring of 2014, according to information posted on the internet by DND.
Around 1,500 standard military pattern vehicles will be bought.
This latest problem is just one of several plaguing the project. Earlier this year, the Citizen reported the project had been delayed once again, at that time because government officials didn’t translate into French the equipment specifications and paperwork to be provided to bidding firms.
In 2008 and 2009, infighting between Army and DND officials over the requirements for the trucks led to further delays. At the time, DND issued an email statement: “The project is not in trouble.”
Defence Minister Peter MacKay and Public Works Minister Rona Ambrose have continually pointed out that military procurement has significantly improved under the Conservative government.
But the NDP has questioned why it is taking so long to replace trucks. “It’s been all under Mr. Harper’s watch and here we are, fully five years later, and they haven’t completed a request for proposals for these vehicles,” said NDP MP Jack Harris. “This speaks to gross mismanagement.”
In 2004 the Defence Department warned in an internal report that its existing truck fleet could be hit by a “catastrophic” failure at any time because of poor brakes and steering systems. Catastrophic failure is used to signify accidents that could involve serious injuries or death.
Defence department officials noted at the time that it is was not technically feasible to extend the life of the trucks beyond 2010. “New fleet in service by end 2008 or safety and performance compromised,” stated the 2004 briefing.
Army officers say they will continue to use those older trucks, but will be keeping an eye on them in case safety issues arise. The army will also use commercial trucks, modified for military use, that were recently delivered by a U.S. firm.
The purchase of those trucks, however, has also been controversial. The awarding of that $274-million contract made headlines after protests from Canadian autoworkers that the vehicles would be built in the U.S. The winning firm, Navistar, built the trucks in Texas.
The same firm laid off 700 workers at its assembly line in Chatham, Ont. The Canadian Auto Workers lobbied unsuccessfully to have the truck contract awarded to a Canadian-based company.
MacKay, however, defended the awarding of the truck contract to the Texas-based firm, stating that there would be Canadian work done on the vehicles. He said Canadian mechanics would be involved in maintaining the trucks and that gas and tires for the vehicles would come from Canada.
The army later restricted the use of the Navistar trucks after two of the vehicles caught fire in Pembroke and at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa last year.
The army says all 1,300 trucks have since been upgraded to deal with electrical problems thought to have caused the fires.