Debated in Parliament on 6 Mar 2026.
Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked about the number of defence contracts above $10 million and $100 million awarded through closed tenders in the past decade, the criteria for closed tenders, and the possibility of publishing major platform replacement requirements on GeBIZ. Chan Chun Sing responded that the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) follows procurement principles of transparency and competition, with closed tenders used only when justified for reasons like operational security or intellectual property. Local companies can participate in closed tenders if they meet specific criteria, and MINDEF's procurement processes are subject to audits, though details on contracts remain undisclosed for security reasons.
Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence (a) in the past 10 years, how many defence contracts above (i) $10 million and (ii) $100 million awarded have been procured through closed tender rather than open tender respectively; (b) what criteria determine whether a procurement is conducted as a closed tender; and (c) whether the Ministry will consider publishing requirements for major platform replacements on GeBIZ to enable local industry participation.
The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) conducts its procurements in accordance with the Government's procurement principles of transparency, open and fair competition, and value for money. Given the nature of defence procurements, operational and information security are additional critical considerations for MINDEF.
MINDEF's default procurement approach is to conduct open tenders via GeBIZ. Where there are good reasons and valid justifications, closed tenders, also referred to as limited tenders, may be conducted. Some criteria for adopting closed tenders include operational and information security considerations, proprietary or intellectual property rights, and interoperability with existing systems. Local companies are invited to participate in closed tenders if they possess the relevant products, services or expertise.
MINDEF's defence procurements are subject to the necessary approvals, governance processes and audits to ensure accountability and proper stewardship of public funds. For security reasons, MINDEF does not publicly disclose data of our defence contracts.