By Clint Chan Tack Wednesday, March 19 2008

AS CARIBBEAN Airlines’ talks with Bombardier to acquire a $400 million executive jet “crashed and burned” yesterday, National Security Minister Martin Joseph told the Senate that a $391 million contract between the Government and Austal Ships PTY to build six fast patrol boats was in “ship shape.”

Responding to a question asked by Independent Senator Basharat Ali, Joseph explained that this contract mandates Austal to deliver the vessels, provide maintenance services for a five-year period and train Coast Guard personnel. He added that an estimated $313 million of the sum was allocated for the construction, commissioning and delivery of the six vessels.

Joseph said the tendering process for the vessels began with a request for proposal on March 9, 2007 to eight manufacturers. They were given a deadline of April 20, 2007 to submit interim proposals and a deadline of June 11, 2007 to submit final proposals. Joseph said only seven manufacturers made the deadline. Their proposals were evaluated by a committee comprising senior officials from the Coast Guard, Finance Ministry, Ministry of the Attorney General, National Security Ministry and an independent procurement consultant. Joseph identified this consultant as a US Navy captain who was also the consultant involved in the acquisition of three offshore patrol vessels from Britain which are to be delivered to the Coast Guard next year.

Joseph said after a comprehensive review of the proposals from the seven manufacturers, the committee identified Austal’s proposal as “the most attractive and the one from which the country would get the best value for its money.” The Cabinet agreed with the committee’s recommendations and awarded the contract to Austal which has “a 17-year track record of designing, building and delivering high-performance ships.”

The first two fast patrol vessels will be delivered in October 2009 and the other four will arrive in February 2010.