The frigate selection chairman emphasized appointing 16 committee members considered "The Best," adhering to NATO-US standards and reviewing the TOR with integrity and honesty.
On 18 Sep 2026 at the Navy Auditorium, Rear Admiral Wasan Traichit, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Fleet and chairman of the procurement selection committee, stated that in a maritime environment marked by arms competition and overlapping territories causing conflicts with potential military escalation, these threats must be addressed.
Currently, the Navy lacks sufficient high-performance frigates, and the number is declining. Without strengthening naval combat power to a superior level, the risk of defeat in military conflict will increase.
Procurement of high-performance frigates is therefore a measure to minimize all risks—even a 1% risk is significant. The assigned committee regards this as a crucial opportunity to conduct the process thoroughly and carefully.
The Navy has appointed 16 procurement committee members, deemed "The Best" from key command and combat units, all possessing extensive knowledge and experience.
Rear Admiral Wasan said he has served in the Navy for 35 years, commanding ships ranging from 800 to 3,000 tons in main combat units. While serving as a military attaché in Rome, Italy, he had the opportunity to visit several European shipyards known for advanced technology and standards, including weapons industries within NATO countries.
“Please have confidence in this committee, which applies comprehensive knowledge and expertise to select frigates primarily for official benefit. The procurement follows an offset policy integrating economic and industrial compensation as established by previous commanders. The committee’s duty is to find contractors capable of meeting all TOR requirements. I affirm there is no exclusion of any contractors,” he said.
Regarding proposal evaluation, accuracy and adherence to the TOR are paramount, complying with procurement law to ensure value, transparency, efficiency, and accountability. The committee carefully considers the interests of the state and citizens to select contractors with complete and qualified proposals to strengthen the Navy and national security. Whether a bidder succeeds depends solely on their ability to meet the Navy’s TOR.
According to the invitation letter, companies were initially given 15 days to prepare documents, the legal maximum. The Navy has extended the submission period to 45 days to enable companies to prepare proposals fully aligned with requirements. The procurement committee thoroughly reviews proposals for compliance with key TOR elements with honesty toward themselves, their duties, and bidders. Proposals lacking required qualifications will not proceed further.
The scoring criteria follow the US model, indicating system readiness, continuous operation, survivability under threat, and confidence in technology transfer projects. A full TOR-compliant score is 43.9 points. Additional factors include profit and benefits to government agencies.