JOIN USAzim Premji-led Wipro is one step away from winning Rs 960-crore order from the Indian Air Force for electronic maintenance of its management system, said highly placed sources on condition of anonymity.
Though other bidders have been apparently eliminated from the run, Wipro now just has to go through the final stage -- ‘reverse auction’ or the stage that precedes awarding of the contract, sources added.
Titled ‘e-Maintenance Management System for the IAF’, the project involves provisioning, installation, integration, commissioning, management and maintenance for all the hardware being procured by the Indian Air Force as part of the project.
Wipro Infotech, the India and Middle East IT Business unit of Wipro, emerged the lowest bidder, despite stiff competition from other Information Technology (IT) majors like Infosys, TCS and certain small companies.
170 sites identified
According to the bid document, e-MMS sites include Air HQ R K Puram; Vayu Bhavan; Air Force Station New Delhi and many others. A total of 170 sites in 15 locations have been identified for implementation of the project.
Wipro Infotech Senior Vice-President and Business Head Anand Sankaran declined to comment when contacted, as the company is in its ‘silent period’ just before the second quarter results for fiscal 2013. Indian Air Force Public Relations Officer Wing Commander Gerard Galway told Deccan Herald over phone from New Delhi that he cannot give any further information on the project at this moment.
Deal closure time
Though the final date for closure of the deal, sources in the company said that the deal is likely to be closed in the third quarter of fiscal 2013.
“Wipro’s India presence has been stronger compared to its peers and this deal would enhance their position in the sphere,” an analyst with a broking firm who did not wish be named said, adding “Wipro’s strategies in this direction are working well.”