Shortlist of bidders for long-term UK SAR contract revealed

The UK Department for Transport has published a list of the bidders in the running for the long-term SAR contracts.

Worth between £2 and £3.1 billion, the programme will see SAR being provided by contracted civilian crews under decade-long contracts but from 10 - reduced from 12 - bases around the UK, under plans revealed in November 2011.

There are three lots available to bid on – the first two offering contractors a mix of bases to operate from while the third lot is a combined package covering the entire 10 bases.

The Government says it expects to announce the successful bidders for either Lots 1 and 2, or Lot 3, in early 2013

Lot 1 will deliver the service at, or in the vicinity of, Sumburgh, Stornoway, Culdrose, Leconfield and Valley with a minimum rescue capacity per aircraft of eight casualties/survivors (two of which are capable of being stretchered) and a minimum radius of action of 200nm (250nm at Stornoway).

The companies competing for this package are Bond Offshore Helicopters, Bristow Helicopters, CHC Scotia, Elbit Systems, Evergreen International Aviation, Eurocopter UK, and the Osprey Consortium (Babcock Aerospace Ltd, ERA Helicopters & British International Helicopters Ltd).

The second package will deliver the service at/or in the vicinity of Lee-on-the-Solent, Chivenor, Prestwick, Lossiemouth and Wattisham with a minimum rescue capacity per aircraft of four casualties/survivors (two of which are capable of being stretchered). The companies competing include the same seven above as well as FB Heliservices and Noordzee Helikopters Vlaanderen.

For Lot 3, which will deliver the service requirements of both Lot 1 and Lot 2, companies include Bond, Bristow, CHC Scotia, Elbit Systems, Evergreen International Aviation, Eurocopter UK, Lockheed Martin UK, and the Osprey Consortium.


Source: By Tony Osborne in London 08 March 2012 - Shephard Rotor Hub News

Photo: UK Coast Guard SAR (Photo by Shephard Group)

(7.03.2012)