In the announcement of a new tender within the framework of the project for establishing an anti-drone shield, the Cyprus Police have progressed.
This process has been ongoing for about 20 days and concerns the “Supply and Installation of Portable Systems for Protecting Critical Infrastructure from Unmanned Aircraft Threats.”
The contracting authority is the police force, specifically the Department of Technological Support of the Police Headquarters.
Explicitly stated in the documents accompanying the tender announcement is the prohibition of submission of bids from any business entity based in Russia.
This is based on European Regulation (833/2014). The deadline for the submission of applications for participation and the unsealing of bids has been set for April 2nd.
The duration of the contract execution is three (3) months from the date of signing.
The estimated value of the work is €290,000. However, the cost is not the focal point in this case, but the broader effort to acquire an anti-drone shield for the Republic of Cyprus. This effort, for the time being, cannot be deemed successful.
Since the summer of 2021, a process has been initiated to install an anti-drone shield in critical infrastructure of the Republic of Cyprus.
However, the project currently does not yield similar expectations.
The bid was awarded in September 2021 and provided for the installation of systems at the Presidential Palace, Police Headquarters, Central Prisons, and the two airports of the Republic, as well as the delivery of a number of mobile units.
The contractor, based on the terms of the contract, would fulfill its obligations by the end of 2024.
However, as duly reported by the Cyprus Police in mid-February of last year, due to military operations in the Middle East, the company undertaking the implementation of the contract requested an extension, and the project, instead of being completed by the end of 2024, would be delivered by 2025.
Regarding the new tender announcement, Phileleftheros contacted the Cyprus Police again in the last 24 hours, requesting an official statement.
In response to our related question, it was mentioned that the new tender announcement relates to new needs that have arisen and that the current tender has no relation to the delay in the contract for the installation of systems in critical infrastructure of the Republic.
Furthermore, it was clarified that for the aforementioned project awarded to a company in previous years, an extension was requested for the 1st and 2nd phases of its implementation.
As indicated by the competent authority of the Police, due to the nature of the issue, they are unable to provide any further details.
However, one of the main issues regarding the ongoing tender is whether the successful bidder will ensure that they have a successful track record in executing similar contracts.
This matter is of paramount importance since public contracts concerning security systems have faced complications in the recent past.
