Glad Rag...I believe you have some valid points there...there has certainly been some niavety at various levels and involving wider issues in both MoD and the DfT than just SAR-H.
These changes in various associated areas are important issues ...and the potential loss of direct MoD involvement will certainly have disturbed some members of those supporting the Soteria bid...think of it from a bankers perspective...SAR helo ops are regarded as risky, never mind if the contract also calls for other non-SAR helo missions that have previously been flow under military control..
Other major financial factors have also changed in the last 15 months or so. Don't forget that was when the final 2 bidders submitted their detailed bids and the final detaled pre-contract discussions had yet to be finalised.....It could just be that some key players in the Soteria consortium just don't see this a profitable exercise anymore.....certainly not without substantial re-negotiation...and if so that then opens up the distinct possibility of previous bidders intervening too.
Do I think the Minister's statement was indicating the collapse of the programme?...not nccessarily at this stage...but it was certainly a holding statement while all concerned see if there is a way forward, and would not heve been made if there was not a signifcant issue(s) to be resolved.
Last edited by Tallsar; 19th Dec 2010 at 20:14.