Hi,
The message that I got by e-mail was that this 'opportunity' is still progressing, but they are ensuring that they have sufficent people in place for contract award. So, by placing an expression of interest with them they can prove that they can recruit the right calibre of people to fulfil the contract.
Whoever is running this contract is obviously pretty switched on as you can have all of the systems, simulators, computer based training, and the infra in place - but finding the experienced and high quality people (and being able to retain them) has in recent PFI/PPP projects been the real challenge.
Many previous contracts have been awarded after the lowest price was offered, but when it came to finding the experienced operators and managers to conduct everything from the analyse/design through to the delivery of training they wondered why their low salaries were only attracting low experience/calibre individuals. Look how long the MFTS/Ascent design team lead positions were being advertised - no one with any real experience was ever going to touch that job on the money they were offering.
Keep your options open and throw your hat into the ring - the worst thing that can happen is that they say that they did not get contract award. Lets not kid ourselves, even with the supposed 'down turn' in the economy the jobs are still out there.
This one with Contract Air may miss the boat as many have to give a years notice or if civilian be ready to move with 1 or 2 months notice and will therefore not hang on forever.
As we all know there are not that many ex military QHIs kicking around and able to move at the drop of a hat or on the click of Contract Air's fingers.