MANILA: The Department of National Defense (DND) is allocating some PHP11.7 billion to buy ballistic helmets and military body armors for some 115,000 Philippine Army (PA) soldiers. In a bid bulletin posted at its website, the DND said the ballistic helmet project has a budget of PHP2. 875 billion. It said bidding is open to foreign and local manufacturers, subject to the conditions of eligibility provided under the 2016 revised implementing rules and regulations (IRRs) of Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act. Winning bidders are required to deliver the ballistic helmets in a five-year period and in batches of 23,000 yearly. In a separate bid bulletin, the DND said it is allocating PHP8.832 billion for the acquisition of 115,000 military body armor. Like in the ballistic helmets, winner bidders are required to buy the items within a five-year period and at batches of 23,000 annually. The DND said the bidding will be conducted through "open competitive bidding procedures using a non -discretionary 'pass/fail' criterion specified under the IRR of the procurement law. It said prospective bidders should have completed a similar project in the last five years. The submission and opening of bids is scheduled on Aug. 20 at the DND building at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. Source: Philippines News Agency