The British Defence Procurement Agency has asked eight British companies to bid on a set of 130 new vehicles for use by Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units. These will use a common 4x4 or 4x2 chassis which must be a proven commercial design. The trucks must have an 1,800kg payload, ballistic protection, an internal power supply, and racks to carry various EOD equipment. The first vehicles will be delivered in 2003.--Stephen V Cole