However, a meeting was taken by Principal Secretary to PM

on this subject on November 19, 2003 where he "observed that his main concern was that the framing of the mandatory requirements has led us effectively into a single vendor situation". The Defence Ministry fact-sheet states that in a meeting taken by the former NSA, it was also noted that the President and the Prime Minister have rarely made visits to places involving flying at an altitude beyond 4500 metres and it was also decided to make the mandatory requirement for operational altitude 4500 meters. "The higher flying ceiling of 6000 meters, and a cabinet height of 1.8 meters could be made desirable operational requirements," it said. He suggested that the then IAF Chief ACM S Krishnaswamy and Defence Secretary may jointly review the matter to draw up realistic mandatory requirements satisfying operational, security and convenience requirements of VVIPs and also set in motion a fast track process for selection and acquisition of the replacement helicopters. "In pursuance of the above directive, the Operational Requirements (ORs) were deliberated at length between IAF, NSA, SPG/PMO and Defence Ministry between March, 2005 to September, 2006 and the above indicated changes were incorporated," the Ministry fact-sheet stated. In these deliberations, the stakeholders took a decision to increase the number of choppers for VVIP duties from eight to 12. After freezing the requirements, the Ministry issued the RFP on September 27, 2006 after which three vendors, namely Sikorsky, AgustaWestland, AW-101 helicopter and Russian Rosoboronexport responded to it. The Russian firm's bid was rejected as it did not deposit the earnest money and integrity pact. After comprehensive field evaluation trials, in which the Special Protection Group was also represented, Sikorsky was declared to be non-compliant for not meeting four staff requirements. (MORE)