Hikvision Products Part Of 42.4 Million Euros Contract With Italian Government

Hikvision has recently won a mega-contract with the Italian Government, of the value of 42,5 million dollars, for the provisioning of videosurveillance cameras and advanced technology to several sites of public administrations.

[IPVM Note: Hikvision has responded, explaining that they did not win the deal themselves, but that Hikvision products were included as part of a winning bid from the responder. Full quote and details inside.]

To assist the implementation of these projects, Hikvision has openend a new office in Rome. Together with the office in Milan and a large distributor in northern Italy, Hikvision has a meaningful physical presence in Italy and so can be close to customers and provide all kind of commercial, technical and post-sale assitance that is needed.

Reactions:

(1)

John Honovich

IPVM

Ginacarlo, very interesting, thanks for sharing!

Do you have a link to any government document or Italian news report that gives any further details?

Reactions:

Giancarlo Favero

In reply to John Honovich

I have contacts with "Consip", which is the institution of the Ministry of Economic Affairs in charge of issuing and managing the RFPs and the subsequent assignment process, and within Mepa, the platform for managing these bids, the news is of public domain.

I think that if you write "Hikvision Consip" on google you will find several links. Of course there is always the complot theory, that is someone (e.g. "Movimento Cinque Stelle" of Beppe Grillo), that cry to the complot.

But the bottom line is that Hikvision (through Fastweb, that is the main contractor), has swept all competitors and brought home the multi-million contract.

I take the occasion to point out that the contract is of 42,5 million Euros, not Dollars.... but it does not make a big difference.

Reactions:

John Honovich

IPVM

Giancarlo, thanks, Hikvision Consip did return results that cited the 42.4 million contract, e.g., 1 and 2. There may be better, more authoritative links, e.g., from the Italian government, if anyone finds them, please share.

This is something that we definitely want to do a post on. Thanks again for bringing this to our attention.

Reactions:

Giancarlo Favero

In reply to John Honovich

It is noteworthy to point out that here

http://www.corriere.it/economia/17_giugno_30/consip-appalto-telecamere-cinesi-controllate-governo-pechino-a972b48e-5d64-11e7-a3ba-28ae329eb765.shtml

they specify that

Le telecamere saranno utilizzate per la sorveglianza anche di luoghi sensibili, come le sedi governative, i tribunali, le caserme e le ambasciate

that is

The videocameras will be used for the surveillance of sensitive sites, as for example the government buildings, the tribunals, military camps and buildings and the embassies.

Reactions:

(1)

Undisclosed Integrator #1

Is there an RFP published? Were there other bidders? It would be interesting to see what the competition quoted.

Reactions:

(1)

Giancarlo Favero

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #1

The RFP was published on G.U.U.E ("Gazzetta Ufficiale dell'Unione Europea) Series S-232 of 01 december 2015 and on G.U.R.I. (Gazzetta Ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana) n. 141 of 30 november 2015, so it received the most publicity possible.

Given that the tender was on a European basis, we can assume that there were dozens of competitors.

It is against the law to disclose what other competitors quoted.

According to law 241/90 concerning public transparency only the subject that has an "actual, direct and provable" interest in accessing the tender documentation, can require access to the documentation provided by other competitors.

You can find some details of the tender

here

Giancarlo Favero

Reactions:

John Honovich

IPVM

Giancarlo, thanks for the link! Very helpful. We'll go through it. I would expect a post in a week or two on this as we will have to go through the materials, contact people in Italy, etc.

Reactions:

Giancarlo Favero

In reply to John Honovich

You're quite welcome John. In the meantime I am searching some more info and sources. Being in the videosurveillance and security industry since some 30 years, we have developed several contacts that we can exploit.

In the meantime do not hesitate to let me know if I can be of any help or assistance.

Thanks

Giancarlo Favero

Reactions:

Undisclosed #5

•Sep 17, 2017

IPVMU Certified

But the bottom line is that Hikvision (through Fastweb, that is the main contractor), has swept all competitors and brought home the multi-million contract.

Regarding the response:

Hikvision Italy is one of the multiple component suppliers and does not engage in bidding and contracting procedure directly.

Are you familiar with the amount of sales/technical support provided by Hikvision? When you say "through Fastweb", it gives the impression that Hik was actively driving the process, is that accurate?

I am curious as to the number and type of resources that they would expend to compete for such an oppurtunity.

Concerning the phrase "God don’t want small potatoes...", given that it is 3rd singular person, you should write "God DOES NOT want...".

These are Rock 'n Roll lyrics; such colloquial accommodations are commonly used for emphasis, e.g. "You ain't nothin' but a hound dog"

Reactions:

(1)

Undisclosed Integrator #2

Now let's get started with the ways to downplay the deal, slam the Italians because they buy hikvision, etc. I can see those comments coming.It's never to be believed that hikvision competes with others and wins fair and square, can't see that, those same ones could only see Hillary too! Let's dig up the world and find some far flung skeleton in someones closet that is the reason they bought hikvision in the first place. Or maybe its a misspelled word in the RFP that allowed them to beat all other competitors and take home the 42.5 million. No way IPVM will admit that it was a fair competition and hikvision had the better product, can't be. Lets examine the RFP with a fine tooth comb, why? why you ask would they do this after all the IPVM negative press? I can tell you why, Press is BS, its someones opinion, usually slanted to fit their needs (hits) and intelligent people dont give it the time of day, they look for quality, craftsmanship and they apparently found it! Not a squeak in hell about Italians, their government, etc. BEFORE this was announced now lets see if we dont hear all the absurd reasons why they have not followed the headlines of IPVM and they reviewed the product in a prudent manner and selected a winner, that would be hikvision, again, eat your heart out, I know you won't sleep well tonight trying to figure out why in the world they didn't believe all of the negative headlines. Remember it's just a little 42.5 million deal, are you pulling your hair out yet IPVM? Next?

Thank you Italy, we dedicated Hikvision dealers appreciate you!

Reactions:

(2)

(1)

(4)

(1)

Undisclosed Integrator #1

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2

UDI #2 - The un-scientific experiment continues?

Reactions:

Undisclosed #3

"God wants escudos, God wants pesetas
Don’t send lira, God don’t want small potatoes..."

Reactions:

Giancarlo Favero

In reply to Undisclosed #3

Perhaps you need some update: it is already 18 years that lira does not exist, and has been replaced by Euro in all 28 member states of the European Union.

Concerning the phrase "God don’t want small potatoes...", given that it is 3rd singular person, you should write "God DOES NOT want...".

I can suggest some good basic english grammar.

Concerning money, the one that has desperate need for money is the USA, that have a enormous public debt: if it were not for the Chinese who gave America tons of money buying the treasury bonds of the public american debt, America had long gone bankrupted.

As I like to say, the one who has got money, is alway right.

Cheers,

Giancarlo Favero

Reactions:

Undisclosed #3