Central government issues guidelines for awarding tenders for shipbuilding and ship repair works

The central government has issued guidelines for evaluating and awarding tenders for shipbuilding, dry-docking and ship repair works by government departments and agencies including public sector undertakings (PSUs). The guidelines were approved by the cabinet in December 2015. According to the guidelines, the departments or agencies procuring any type of vessels for governmental purposes or for their own use or requiring ship repair will, till 2025, grant right of first refusal to Indian shipyards to enable them to match the lowest rate offered by foreign bidders. Further, from 2025 onwards, only Indian-built vessels will be procured by the departments and agencies.