Irving defends $300 million proposal for humanitarian vessel
Posted May 26, 2016 05:50:51 AM.
Last Updated May 26, 2016 05:55:58 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA – Irving Shipbuilding insists their latest proposal to the federal government for a multi-purpose humanitarian vessel is not an unsolicited bid, as characterized by Quebec’s Chantier Davie Shipyard.
The $300 million vessel was pitched by Irving at a trade show in Ottawa Wednesday and involves tweaks to a commercial ship to allow Canadian aid workers more flexibility during emergencies and natural disasters.
In a press release, Davie’s chairman Alex Vicefield praised Irving for their innovation, but also seemingly took a shot at the plans, calling it “unsolicited.”
“This is a great initiative from Irving Shipbuilding,” Vicefield said in the release.”These kind of unsolicited proposals where industry takes what it has learnt in how to provide fast-track, cost-efficient solutions to address critical operational gaps, is exactly what is needed right now.”
While answering reporter questions in Ottawa Wednesday, Kevin McCoy, president of Irving Shipbuilding, insisted the bid was not in fact unsolicited, but rather a response to the government’s call for input on its defence policy review.
The news comes just two months after a very similar war of words between the two shipyards, after Davie provided plans for new coast guard replacement vessels in which Irving holds the contract.
At that time, Irving said Davie’s bid was not in the spirit of a fair and open procurement process.
Irving and Davie have both been highly protective of work awarded by government contracts.
