NEW DELHI: Indian Army is facing acute shortage of bullet proof jackets (BPJs) for its foot soldiers for a long time. Despite making best possible efforts and initiating the procedural acquisition of these crucial safety logistics in 2009, the army authorities have failed to provide the same to its jawans, facing the brunt of enemy bullets wearing old jackets.
After the Defence establishment failed to procure the bullet proof jackets, an order for supply of 50,000 such jackets, through revenue expenditure route, was placed on 31 March 2016, against which the first consignment of 5000 jackets has been delivered on 15 October 2016.
According to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar a requirement of 3, 53,765 bullet proof jackets was projected and the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) had accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) in October, 2009 for procurement of 3,53,765 BPJs, including quantity 1,86,138 to be procured in the 11th Army Plan. Further the Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued to 36 vendors on 3 March 2011, but had to be retracted on 8 December 2011 to address issues in respect of conduct of trials.
The RFP was issued again on 7 December 2012 to 39 vendors. However, as none of the consignment produced by the vendors for trials were found in consonance with the RFP parameters, the RFP was retracted on 5 October 2015.
A fresh RFP has been issued on 4 April 2016. On completion of the technical evaluation of the offers, trials will be scheduled by Army Headquarters.
This information was given by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in a written reply to Dilipbhai Pandya in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.