Defence Minister Rajnath Singh unveiled a new Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) on 28 September that endeavours through its initiatives to turn India into a global manufacturing hub of military platforms, reduce timelines for procurement of defence equipment and allow purchase of essential items by the three services through the capital budget under a simplified mechanism.
In a significant move, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has revised the Offset Guidelines and done away with the policy that entailed foreign companies investing at least 30 per cent of the contract value in the Indian manufacturing sector if the deal is being processed under the government to government or single vendor case. The policy failed to bring critical technology into the country. As per the new guidelines, preference will be given to manufacture of complete defence products over components. Various multipliers that have been added to incentivise discharge of Offsets.
“The DAP 2020 has been aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and it will empower the Indian domestic industry through the Make in India initiative with the ultimate aim of turning India into a global manufacturing hub,” said Rajnath Singh after unveiling the new document.
According to the new DAP, only companies that have more than 50 per cent Indian ownership will be allowed to participate in key Make in India categories of procurement. This includes the Strategic Partnership model, Make I and 2 and Indian Designed Developed and Manufactured (IDDM) categories. The MoD statement says that the categories of Buy (Indian-IDDM), Make I, Make II, Production Agency in Design & Development, OFB/DPSU and SP model will be exclusively reserved for Indian Vendors meeting the criteria of Ownership and Control by resident Indian Citizens with FDI not more than 49 per cent. This reservation will provide exclusivity in participation to domestic Indian industry.
With the new Foreign Direct Investment policy announced, DAP 2020 has adequately supported provisions to encourage FDI to establish manufacturing hubs both for import substitution and exports while protecting interests of Indian domestic industry. Specific reforms enunciated in Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, have been incorporated as under:
- Notify a List of Weapons/Platforms for Ban on Import
Relevant incorporation has been done in the DAP to ensure that no equipment, as mentioned in the list, is procured ex import, post the timelines notified.
(b)Indigenisation of Imported Spares
(i)Request for Information: RFI stage will explore willingness of the prospective foreign vendors to progressively undertake manufacture and setup an indigenous eco system at the spares/sub component level.
(ii)New Category of Buy (Global – Manufacture in India): The new category incorporates ‘manufacture of either the entire/part of the equipment or spares/assemblies/sub-assemblies/Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility for the equipment, through its subsidiary in India.
(iii)Co-production through IGA: This enables establishment of co-production facilities through IGA achieving ‘Import Substitution’ and reduce Life Cycle Costs.
(iv) Contractual Enablement: Buyer’s Right to optimise Life Cycle Support costs and system enhancements through indigenous eco system incorporated.
(C) FDI in Defence Manufacturing
With the announcement of new FDI Policy, suitable provisions have been incorporated like new category ‘Buy (Global – Manufacture in India)’ to encourage foreign OEMs to setup ‘manufacturing/maintenance entities’ through its subsidiary in India while enabling requisite protections to domestic industry.
- Time Bound Defence Procurement Process and Faster Decision Making
As part of the Defence Reforms announced in the Atmanirbhar Abhiyan, setting up of a PMU has been mandated to support contract management. The PMU will facilitate obtaining advisory and consultancy support in specified areas to streamline acquisition process. Other issues included in these reforms are:
(i) Realistic Setting of GSQRs of Weapons/Platforms. The process of formulation of SQRs has been further refined with greater emphasis on identifying verifiable parameters based on analysis of ‘Comparative’ equipment available in the World and Domestic markets.
(ii)Simplification of Trial Procedures.DAP 2020 emphasises the need to conduct trials with an objective to nurture competition based on the principles of transparency, fairness and equal opportunities to all and not as a process of elimination.
Ease of Doing Business
One of the key focus areas of the review has been to implement ‘Ease of Doing Business’ with emphasis on simplification, delegation and making the process industry friendly with certain specific provisions incorporated:
(a)Procedural Change.
(i) Single stage accord of AoN in all cases upto Rs 500 crores has been instituted thereby reducing time.
(ii) FTP cases, post accord of AoN, will be progressed as per delegated powers thereby reducing the procurement cycle considerably.
(iii)In the planning process, LTIPP has been re-designated as Integrated Capability Development Plan (ICDP) covering planning period of ten years instead of 15 years.
(b)Request for Proposal (RFP) and Standard Contract Document (SCD). Certain measures to provide clarity and alignment of requirements as also enabling provisions have been incorporated in the RFP and SCD in terms of Flow Chart driven guidelines, provision of in-storage preservation and termination of contracts in cases where projects are not progressing as per pre–defined milestones.
Salient features of DAP 2020
Reservation in Categories for Indian Vendors
The categories of Buy (Indian-IDDM), Make I, Make II, Production Agency in Design & Development, OFB/DPSU and SP model will be exclusively reserved for Indian Vendors meeting the criteria of Ownership and Control by resident Indian Citizens with FDI not more than 49%. This reservation will provide exclusivity in participation to domestic Indian industry.
Enhancement of Indigenous Content
(a)Overall Enhancement in Indigenous Content (IC)
| Ser No | Category | DPP 2016 | DAP 2020 |
| (i) | Buy (Indian-IDDM) | Min 40% | Min 50% |
| (ii) | Buy (Indian) | Min 40% | Indigenous design – Min 50% Otherwise – Min 60% |
| (iii) | Buy & Make (Indian) | Min 50% of Make | Min 50% of Make
|
| (iv) | Buy (Global – Manufacture in India) | – | Min 50% of Buy plus Make |
| (v) | Buy (Global) | – | Min 30% for Indian vendors |
(b)IC Verification. A simple and practical verification process has been instituted and IC will now be calculated on ‘Base Contract Price’ i.e., Total Contract Price less taxes & duties.
(c) Indigenous Military Material. Promoting use of indigenous military material with provisions for examination of platforms and other equipment/ systems and reward for vendors for using indigenous raw material.
(d)Indigenous Software.Provision for exploring options for operating base applications like Fire Control System, Radars, Encryption, Communications etc. on indigenous software in Buy (Indian– IDDM) & Buy (Indian) cases have been included.
Rationalisation of Trial and Testing Procedures
(a) Testing equipment based on its employability and for other conditions appropriate certifications confirming functional effectiveness, may be obtained.
(b) Scope of Trials will be restricted to physical evaluation of core operational parameters, other parameters may be evaluated based on vendor certification, certification by accredited laboratories, computer simulations of parameters.
(c) Avoid duplication of trials and waiver will be granted based on Certificates of Conformance. Ensure simultaneity of various Trials and wherever feasible, entire trials be conducted by a Combine Trial Team in order to save time.
(d) Requisite opportunity will be afforded to participating vendors to rectify shortcomings/faults during the Trials with permission to carry out repairs.
(e) Request for Proposal will apprise vendors to submit draft Acceptance Test Procedure (ATP), to be finalised by QA agency during Technical Trials itself. Sample size for destructive tests including the aspect of cost to be borne by seller will be stated upfront in the RFP for vendor.
(f) Inspections. No repetition of inspections will be done especially during acceptance of equipment. Third Party Inspections will also be carried out.
Make & Innovation
(a)Make I (Government Funded upto 70%). Laying down a cap of Rs 250 crore/DA and selection of DAs based on bidding criteria.
(b) Make II (Industry Funded) for production of indigenously designed and developed weapons/equipment/systems/platforms along with sub components/assemblies.
(c)Make III (Indigenously Manufactured) category for manufacture of equipment/platforms or spares/assemblies/sub-assemblies for enabling import substitution.
(d)Procurement of prototypes developed through ‘Innovation’ under various initiatives like iDEX, Technology Development Fund and Internal Services Organisations has been facilitated.
Design & Development
A separate dedicated chapter has been incorporated in the DAP 2020 for acquisition of systems Designed and Developed by DRDO/DPSUs/OFB. A simplified procedure with Integrated Single Stage Trials to reduce timelines and laying greater emphasis on evaluation through certification and simulation. Aspects of Spiral Development have been incorporated.
Address Voids: Certain existing voids have been addressed in the form of new Chapters as under:
(a)Information Communication Technology. Peculiar issues related to procurement of ICT intensive equipment, especially of Interoperability & Built-in Upgradability, enhanced security requirements and change management have been included.
(b) Leasing.A new category introduced to enable operating of assets without owning thereby, substitute huge initial capital outlays.
(c) Post Contract Management. To formalise procedures post signing of contract with respect to inspections, levying of Liquidity Damages, Contract Amendments etc.
(d) Other Capital Procurement Procedure. A new procedure has been included as a new chapter in DAP and structured as an enabling provision for Services to procure essential items through Capital Budget under a simplified procedure in a time bound manner.
Industry Friendly Commercial Terms
(a) Price Variation Clause has been incorporated for large and protracted contracts in order to avert inflated initial quotes by vendors and arriving at a realistic price of the project.
(b)Payments to Vendors. Suitable provisions like parallel processing of documents by SHQ/PCDA through digital verification, within laid down timelines, have been included to ensure timely payment to vendors. Payments to Indian industry have been aligned with foreign industry.
Team BharatShakti
