Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Ministry of Defence
Andover
ArmyComrcl-NI-Mailbox@mod.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKK - South West (England)
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority
one.5) Main activity
Defence
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Provision of MEDEVAC, General Aviation Support and Aerial Firefighting at BATSUB
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 60424120 - Hire of helicopters with crew
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Provision of MEDEVAC, General Aviation Support and Aerial Firefighting at BATSUB
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £18,200,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- BZ - Belize
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The services required are as follows:
a. Aviation Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) with twin-engine capability
b. General Aviation Support (GAS)
c. Aerial Firefighting (AFF)
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Negotiated procedure without publication of a contract notice
- No tenders or no suitable tenders/requests to participate in response to negotiated procedure with prior publication of a contract notice
- The products involved are manufactured purely for the purpose of research, experiment, study or development
- The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
- absence of competition for technical reasons
Explanation:
1. The Authority intends to negotiate the award of a contract to Astrum Helicopters for the provision of MEDEVAC, General Aviation Support and Aerial Firefighting for British Army Training Support Unit Belize (BATSUB)
2. It is considered that this contract can be placed using the negotiated procedure without prior publication of a contract notice pursuant to Regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations (DSPCR 2011) as competition is absent for technical reasons. There is a regulatory requirement, as laid down by the Belize Department for Civil Aviation (BDCA), that an economic operator within Belizean territory must obtain and maintain an Air Operators Certificate (AOC) to carry out commercial activity. It is also the BDCA’s position that “foreign” certification (FAA/CAA/EASA recognised) is non-transferable. This certification must be in place by contract start date (1st October 2023). The process to start the certification application is triggered by a letter of intent from an economic operator to the Director of Civil Aviation in Belize, something which, due to the need for evidence of established processes for operations in Belize and cost implications, would be impractical and risk-laden to submit prior to contract award. It is likely that contract award will not take place until mid-2023. The current time-frame for certification is 12-18 months. The Authority cannot accommodate a break in service delivery as this will have a negative impact on training at BATSUB. MEDEVAC would have to be by land extraction, which does not meet medical planning guidelines due to risk to life (RTL) considerations. Ceasing training would also have a negative impact on the Authority’s ability to deploy personnel. There is a potential reputational risk if the Authority cannot deploy an Aerial Firefighting capability.
3. Astrum Helicopters carry the requisite certification from the BDCA and can begin service delivery by the required contract start date. It is the Authority’s belief that there are no alternate providers, either in Belize or elsewhere, who hold this certification and would be in a position to deliver these services by 1 October 2023.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
Section five. Award of contract/concession
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
4 August 2022
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Astrum Helicopters
Belize City
Country
Belize
NUTS code
- BZ - Belize
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot/concession: £18,200,000
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £18,200,000
five.2.5) Information about subcontracting
The contract/lot/concession is likely to be subcontracted
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
With reference to Section V, dates and values have been added as this is a system requirement. For clarity, a contract has not been awarded. It is the Authority's intent to seek to negotiate a contract with the economic operator detailed as Section V.2.3
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Army Commercial
Andover
Country
United Kingdom