MAIN HEADLINES FROM THIS ISSUE:

• Kuwait offset program: Contractors left hanging as program suspended – Validity of bank guarantees questioned

  The decision of Kuwait’s Council of Ministers to transfer responsibility for management of the country’s offset program from one government agency to another, to disconnect the Ministry of Finance from the National Offset Company, and to suspend the entire civil and defence program, has caused immense confusion. No-one has come out with an official statement or clarified the situation to foreign contractors.

• Poland appoints a Brigadier General to head the MoD’S offset bureau

  The Polish government has appointed Brigadier General Stanis?aw Butlak to head the offset bureau at the MoD. The high rank demonstrates Poland’s commitment to continue crucial offsets under the country’s defence procurement policy.

• Canada: Bidders must overachieve to get maximum points – secretariat staff arrangement now in place

  According to a recent RfP Canada now appears to expect companies to over-perform in order to receive maximum points in their contract bids…… An initial secretariat staff arrangement is now in place in Public Works and Government Services Canada to support the early implementation of the Defence Procurement Strategy.

• South Africa: Denel seeks civil benefits

  Denel Aviation is holding discussions with government departments in South Africa to participate in offsets arising from the acquisition of new fleets by South African Airways and South Africa Express Airways…..

• Canada: F-35 work rises significantly

  Industry Canada has tabled a report identifying the value of work that Canadian firms have secured on the F-35 as US$587m. That is an increase of $83m over the results published in the fall 2013.