Argentina’s Army has launched a tender offering at least one tonne of quince in exchange for spare parts for one of its vehicles, according to procurement documents published this week on the government purchasing portal.
“Exchange of tonnes of quince for Chevrolet pick-up truck parts,” reads the tender document, republished after an initial March offering failed to attract bidders.
Bids are due to be opened on May 27. The successful bidder will have 30 days to deliver the spare parts and a further 20 days to collect the quince from the ‘Cuadro Nacional’ estate, where the vehicle is also located, in San Rafael, Mendoza Province.
The winning offer will be the bidder willing to accept the lowest quantity of quince in exchange for the requested parts for a 2010 Chevrolet S10 4x4 pick-up truck. The vehicle requires 31 components, including bushings, brake pads and a water pump. The document does not specify how many tonnes of quince the Army currently holds.
There is precedent for similar operations involving quince. In 2021, the force auctioned off 350 tonnes of the fruit, while in 2019 it offered 520 tonnes, though on those occasions the produce was exchanged for money rather than goods.
The story went viral on social media after opposition Peronist lawmaker Rodolfo Tailhade posted the tender on X on Tuesday, referencing a recent Armed Forces purchase.
“Is there money for the F-16s [fighter jets] but not to buy the spare parts the Argentine Army needs?” he wrote on social media.
The tender emerges amid budget restrictions imposed by the government of Argentina’s President Javier Milei, which have also affected the defence sector.
– TIMES/AFP
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