In the last public statement from the UK SAR Helicopter Harmonisation and Procurement Steering Group in July 2002 was that:
"To date, no decision has been made on whether the MCA and MoD will jointly acquire a future SAR capability;
To date, no decision has been made on whether PFI or conventional acquisition is more appropriate for the procurement of the future UK SAR capability."
According to the DPA web site:
"PFI remains an option for Training and all, or part, of the SAR requirement."