RE:RE:RE:Defence committee calls for open competition for spy jetsI am now retired but for the last 20 years of my career I was employed as a Project Manager for theDepartment of National Defence in the procurement of military equipment. Unless rules have changed recently, there was no such thing as buying some equipment because it was the best for the job.
After a complete analysis of the requirement (Statement of Requirement), my team had to develop specification documents that were made pubic by Public Work and Government Services (PWGS) seeking bids from industry. It was always a very competitive process. On rare occasions I could seek a bid from a single manufacturer but I had to prove to senior management and PWGSC that they were the only supplier being able to make the product. Again, the fact that a supplier could offer the best solution for the job was not a consideration. The winning bid was always determined by the proposed solution meeting the required specifications at the lowest possible price.
No need to say that I was extremely surprised and dissapointed when I heard that the Government was to give Boing a sole source contract for the replacement of the LRPA considering that Bombardier can deliver a solution meeting the requirements for the job.