Tender is the key defense might try to feel the heat

. A Bushmaster ute Photo: John Woudstra

A $ 2.9 billion is facing internal policy against providing the best protection for our soldiers, writes Mark Hawthorne.

To a large extent, this is the age of the complainant. WikiLeaks to Murdochgate, individuals who are willing to spill the beans has played a central role in the leak of information is often crucial and embarrassing at times.

Now is the office of Defense Minister, who suffer that fate.

For the average punter is not the most intriguing subjects. In military circles, the contract to purchase 2,700 new trucks for the Australian army is known by the much more simple.

No matter what you call it, the $ 2. 9000 million project to supply and service trucks for the next 30 years is one of the government contracts more lucrative game, and the bidding process is one of the main tasks undertaken by the Defence Materiel Organisation.

Three of the largest military suppliers from Europe – and Germany and France – are in the running for the lucrative contract.

Unfortunately for the government, sources close to the deal complained that political interference is to make the bidding process a sham.

The leaks were first raised in March, when age revealed the Defense Department's concern that the trucks construyó''por''a a cost, and that the level of explosion protection is specified, it was not enough to protect soldiers from roadside bombs.

Another series of leaks that has cast a shadow even in parts of the offer $ 2.9 billion.

BMD has been reported Smith Department of Rheinmetall MAN had led the list of preferred vehicles. While the Mercedes vehicles were higher, the price gave man the edge.

Bendigo Ute built Bushmaster, by Thales, was the past. It costs about three times more than its rivals, is more expensive to service, and put on trial twice.

Despite this, word soon filtered back to the bidding team that includes que''cualquier Thales option is not an option.''

Thales has laid off about 100 people since late last year and needs another contract to keep their facilities open to Bendigo.

Smith visited the Bushmaster factory this week, but reveals little. ''It's a bidding process, but we're hoping to make a decision in the not too distant future.''

Member of Bendigo inflame the situation in March when he told the ABC:''We are in the hands of the DMO, which will make the recommendation and the recommendation might do is ignore Bushmaster. But we may be able to reverse the time of going to the ministers, because, ultimately, be a government decision.''

, President of Mercedes-Benz Australia, moved to write directly to Smith. He wondered if the final decision of the DMO would actually be followed, or undisclosed si''''factores could play a role in deciding who gets a slice of Overlander of $ 2.9 billion of funds.

Smith responded in May, Tempel que''una remembering letter recently sent to all bidders on Earth 121 Phase 3 reminding them of their obligations to public service announcements and communications.''

Unfortunately for Smith, people involved in the decision of the tender have been less accommodating. Several submissions have been leaked to the Age in the last month.

The motive, apparently, is a desire to avoid future holders of the Ute Bushmaster, which echo earlier reports of barcos''oxidado''y''fiasco''subs.

When all the shots''in the media about the bungling of the Ute Bushmaster, the government will step back and let it take the fall DMO,''said a person involved with the tender. ''The amount of government interference in the project is enormous.

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