Bulgaria’s Fighter Jet Fiasco: DANS to Handpick Companies for ‘Graf Ignatievo’ Overhaul
Due to the failure of several Ministry of Defense (MoD) leaders to prepare the Third Air Base, known as “Graf Ignatievo”, in time for the new F-16 fighter jets, the upcoming multi-million orders for modernize it. be awarded without public procurement, but with “research and selection of a limited number of potential contractors”.
The United States has already warned that there is a danger fighter jets will not be used to their full potential, and their maintenance will become much more expensiveif the necessary conditions are not provided, and our country has already paid rent for the storage of F-16 missiles.
The Public Procurement Act allows it not to apply in the security sector, and this practice is often used by the Ministry of Defence. It is now preferred to try to make up for the delay.
It involves the construction of shelters and hangars for the new F-16 aircraft, with a total value of approximately BGN 200 million including VAT.
Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov explained during one of the last government meetings that he will only work with companies proposed and verified by DANS.
“At the same time, although the current procedure is subject to the exceptions of the PLO, this limited number of potential contractors should be fully sufficient to guarantee the basic principles of equality and non-discrimination, free competition, proportionality and publicity”, said Zapryanov.
Despite his claim, the project is moving with very limited public information, which is somewhat normal given the classified nature of the air base. At the same time, because of this, the circle of companies that can work there is also limited.
Modernization has been delayed and increased in cost dramatically, and there is a real danger that it will not be ready until next year, when the first of the 16 F-16 Block 70 fighters that have just been purchased for over BGN 5 billion is starting to arrive. Therefore, our country may find itself in an uncomfortable position to pay for the storage of the new fighters.
Zapryanov revealed that due to the lack of certified infrastructure last year, Bulgaria paid tens of thousands of dollars for the storage of the manufactured guided missiles.
However, the problem has already been solved as there is a certified warehouse.
The United States has already identified a significant risk since the arrival of the planes, “not to maintain regular flight activity due to the lack of the necessary infrastructure”.
This can also make their maintenance more expensive, because every 30 days storage activities will be performed, the volume of which increases in proportion to the time they have not flown.
“There has been a significant delay in the construction of the rest of the infrastructure related to flight operations and the maintenance of the aircraft and weapons. According to the assessment from the US side, there is a significant risk that the aircraft upon arrival will not be with maintaining regular flight operations due to the lack of the necessary infrastructure”, Zapryanov notes.
“Representatives of the United States government have specifically emphasized that the lack of flight activity with the aircraft will lead to more expensive maintenance work. for the following reasons: every 30 days storage measures will be implemented, the volume of which increases in proportion to the time they have not flown; secondly, the contract lines do not provide funds for the purchase of spare parts and consumables for such additional measures for storage”.
Initially, it was believed that the project would cost a total of 300 million BGN, but this amount was insufficient and the accounts show that it will be more than half a billion BGN.
The reasons for the delay are prohibitive and well known: insufficient capacity, poor planning, limited civilian control, special rules deals (due to secrecy), and unclear accountability.
A key role in the problems related to “Graf Ignatievo” is also played by the Ministry of Defense’s practice of concluding contracts with 100 percent advance payment, which continues even now.