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I honestly do believe these VIP visits are a good sign too Tango and the most significant one was Boris at Appledore. Boris' ego and credibility would take a dent if Appledore didn't get something after his fanfare. I don't think he'd put himself in a position for that to happen.
Another link below from Afloat.ie on Appledore and potential MOD work.
https://afloat.ie/port-news/port-and-shipping-news/item/48129-uk-shipyard-that-built-beckett-series-for-irish-navy-given-warship-pledge-at-h-w-appledore
Stokey, Nationality grounds is the point, so why risk it.
TTNY agree with the sentiment but babs yards are full so why would the contract go to them when there are southcoast and N irish yards needing work. I honestly think it is a no brainer that H&W are going to get the FSS contracts, with all the VIP's visiting them the last few months, they will undoubtedly want to put them on a pedastle. AIMHO DYOR
You're right Stokey about challenges if independence was seen to affect the decision, but there's absolutely NO way on this earth that the government will openly say that it did. They won't even hint that it did (even if it did). It would open such crazy can of worms and would be political suicide for the Tories if this was said.
Tango1 In relation to your 15.15 post you have to remember that the tender will be awarded to the bidder not to the scottish government so as I see it then question of independence is immaterial. Also if it can be proved that considerations of independence affected then decision on the tender that would leave the tener decision open to legal challenge on rationality grounds.
Your 15.13 point is a very good one Tango if Bojo feels Scotland will definitely leave. The other side of the coin though is if Bojo thinks he can keep Scotland on side. He might then just feel he could reduce the chances of, or even delay independence by sending some contract work up north to quieten Nicola for a while.
Stokey, my point is, why would the UK government want to bolster production/manufacturing in Scotland by giving them Multi billion pound contracts, when Scotland (SNP) are hell bent on leaving the UK.
Tango1 In relation to your 14.21 post I am not sure how it would help the scottish government as they would only recieve the tax reciepts from the company assuming that it is a scottish based company. Also .as the scottish government is running a deficit as I understand it there is the question as to whether they would be able to afford to spend billions on defence
While I am at it, would it help Scotland's efforts to be independent of England if they gained big contracts to help self sufficiency and would it be in the governments best interest of keeping the united kingdom united to do so?
TTNY, I would say we are 70/30 as the government is set on LEVELING UP. Bab have enough/more than enough work for the next ten years, what has H&W got in relation???? easy levelling up exercise for BJ. AIMHO
Cheers Stokey for your thoughts and taking the time to reply. I guess my first question is the one I give most thought to.
I appreciate you say any contractor could bid as long as they had a UK shipyard to join up with. With INFA having H & W and now Appledore and the Bab consortium having the shipyards on board that they have, would any 3rd bidder have many shipyards left that were capable of a contract of this size ?
My thoughts are that we're in 50/50 competition with the Bab boys for the FSS work.
ThisTimeNextYeer In relation to your 12.30 post in my view which has a high probability of being wrong the answers to your post are
1 Depending on the terms of the offer any contractor could bid. They may need to find a british shipyard to bid with them.
2. It is possible to split the programme into two lots but then they would have tenders for each lot and you could end up with the same shipyard doing both lots.
3. That would mean that there would effectvely be only one bidder and HMG might decide not too award the contract
4. I do not see how if it is a competitive tender as that would defeat the object of the exercise.
5. I am not sure that would be legal as they would be in possession of information on the bid that is commercially sensitive and could affect the bid submitted
The M.O.D confirmed yesterday that FSS ships will be built by British led teams. The only 2 parties i seem to see being mentioned these days for this work, are our own Team Resolute and the Bab/BAE/CL/RR consortium. I've some questions folks if anyone has any thoughts or answers.
1. If this work does actually stay in the UK, is this 'heads or tails' on which of the above groups might get the work, or is there the potential for a 3rd party that is capable of tendering on this contract ?
2. Could it be likely the government split the contract for the 3 FSS ships, ie say 2 to one group and one to another ?
3. Would there be any likelihood of Team Resolute and the Bab consortium saying to each other, 'lets work together on this as one group and get some business each, rather than us both take the risk of losing out' (to each other or another party).
4. Could the government 'instruct' (for want of a better word) both groups to come together on the complete contract to ensure work is spread geographically throughout the UK and not just in 2 or 3 specific shipyards ?
5. And finally, a controversial question. Is it possible that one or more parties in either of the consortiums could be working with the 'other side' to cover both bases so to speak ? For example, could Rolls Royce or Cammell Laird be in discussions with Team Resolute (should TR get the contract) or INFA in discussion with the Bab consortium (should Bab get the contract) ?