In my line of work, if we submitted an ARC application a week before renewal we'd be facing an AOG until the paperwork had been properly dealt with by the local CAA office. If we knew a year in advance that we'd need third party work completed for renewal, Engineering Contracts would have been out getting the relevant contract in place to ensure the work was done at our own expense.
Maybe BAE or Marshals haven't done the structural inspection work, but work costs money and payment would normally come from the party that needs the work done. In this case the CAA, as regulator, identified a source of test material that would satisfy the structural proof testing requirement. It is up to the VT Management to arrange for that test material to be purchased and tested. I can see no reason why BAE or anybody else should perform any work for free. Like my own employer, they're commercial businesses working solely for the benefit of, and answerable to, their shareholders.