Mumbai-based sources say the company last year invited global tenders for the 2,000-dwt Samudra Prabha (built 1986) and 4,000-dwt Samudra Sevak (built 1988).
The contract, worth $520m, was scheduled to be awarded this month, with ONGC expected to lease back the MPSVs for up to 10 years.
Sources say ONGC received two offers but it was forced to delay processing the tender because of allegations against one of the bidders.
They
