Now this is some interesting news with the EU and their EEAS. I posted earlier this year about another contract they were flying for security, and this one is targeted towards Afghanistan.
Hopefully they can navigate this whole APPF and Decree 62 deal, because they could easily kiss their beloved Page Group security partner (or whomever wins the contract) goodbye if Karzai has his way. Maybe the EU has made some deals to allow them to keep their own security?
I also thought it was interesting that they have narrowed down what companies qualify. Here is the quote:
It is aiming to sign up a big company with prior experience in Afghanistan – the winning bidder must have an annual turnover of at least €20 million and 400 staff. Five companies are eligible to compete – the Hungarian-based Argus, Canada’s Gardaworld, British firms G4S and Page Group, and French company Geos – after getting on an EEAS private security shortlist last year.
My one heartache about this is why aren’t American companies qualified to bid? (like US companies with offices in Europe) I know the US is not a member of the EU, but that doesn’t mean it’s companies are not capable. Because I can think of several who fit the the bill of having ‘annual turnover of at least €20 million and 400 staff‘. The EU is really missing out in my opinion by not contracting with US companies, and it’s not like the US hasn’t contracted with European PMSC’s for DoD or DoS related contracts in the war.
Aegis comes to mind as one current example, and they are actually being contracted to replace AGNA on the KESF contract! lol Either way, we will see how the bidding goes and how they navigate the complexities of Afghanistan security contracting. –Matt
EU to spend €50mn on private security in Afghanistan
05/11/2012
By Andrew Rettman
The EU’s external action service (EEAS) plans to spend up to €50 million on private security guards for its Afghanistan mission over the next four years.
The EEAS unveiled the tender on Thursday (10 May), saying the money would be spent on “protection of staff, their families in the country, visitors from headquarters or other EU institutions, the premises and the goods of the EU delegation in Afghanistan.”
The contract – valued at between €30 million and €50 million plus VAT – is to cover at least 100 security guards, as well as “mobile patrol teams, equipment [and] armoured cars.”
It is aiming to sign up a big company with prior experience in Afghanistan – the winning bidder must have an annual turnover of at least €20 million and 400 staff.