Ministry of Defense conducts first large-scale procurement of engineering barriers

State Enterprise of the Ministry of Defense "Defense Procurement Agency" has concluded contracts for the centralized supply of barbed spiral tape and low-visibility obstacles for the first time. The total value of the procurement is about 1 billion UAH.

This is reported by "Nashi Groshi" citing Prozorro system data.

The contracts were concluded based on the results of tenders held on September 24-29. By November 20, suppliers must deliver 200,000 coils of barbed spiral tape and 100,000 sets of low-visibility obstacles.

Barbed spiral tape is an analogue of "Egoza" or "Concertina" barriers — a spiral of steel wire with sharp blades. Low-visibility obstacles, also called "tangle", are made of thin wire to impede the movement of infantry and vehicles.

Depending on the supplier, the DPA is purchasing barbed spiral tape at 2.4-2.64 thousand UAH per coil, and sets of low-visibility obstacles at 4.85-5.32 thousand UAH.

"Nashi Groshi" notes that the prices for low-visibility obstacles are lower than previous procurements by military units. In particular, units of the State Special Transport Service previously ordered such sets at 6.72-6.89 thousand UAH. Commercial offers on the market are about 5.95-7.9 thousand UAH per set, although product characteristics may differ.

The procurements were accompanied by significant competition. From four to nine companies competed for individual lots. Bid participants, inter alia, requested to extend delivery times and clarify certain technical and localization requirements.

Before the start of the procurement, the Ministry of Defense for the first time separately approved technical specifications for both types of barriers. The initial requirements were introduced at the end of July, but the DPA canceled the first tenders after an appeal from the Support Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine about the need to correct incorrect technical parameters.

The updated specifications came into force on August 25. They, in particular, clarified the dimensions of the tape and barbs, requirements for wire strength, marking and packaging, as well as the composition of sets of low-visibility obstacles.

The largest contracts were awarded to capital-based LLC "ZhD Trans Komplekt" for 347.75 million UAH, Zaporizhzhia-based LLC "Yugstal" for 250.65 million UAH, and LLC "A.T. Smart Capital" for 210.12 million UAH. Another 144.9 million UAH went to LLC "Grin-Moda", and 48.5 million UAH to LLC "Fensys Ukraine".

To participate in tenders, companies had to confirm the execution of similar contracts no earlier than 2023 in the amount of at least 30% of the expected value of the relevant lot, as well as sufficient annual income.