Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) Life Extension Programme

HC Deb 20 March 2000 vol 346 c425W

35. Mr. St. Aubyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the number of private sector firms invited to tender for the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) Life Extension Programme. [113724]

Dr. Moonie

The CVR(T) Life Extension Programme was a single source procurement for which only Alvis Vehicles Ltd. were invited to tender. Since Alvis are the Design Authority for CVR(T) and hold the Intellectual Property Rights for much of the vehicle, the MOD could not issue information to a third party to have the vehicle redesigned. There was therefore no practicable alternative but to contract with Alvis. However, this covered only the design of the modifications and the conversion of the first 200 vehicles and a limited competition is being run between Alvis and the MOD's Army Base Repair Organisation to convert the remaining vehicles.