Tallsar,
GAP requires a service from July 2013, whereas the DfT's online competition schedule for the long term UK SAR service states that this competition will be done and dusted by Feb 2013.
Your wise words make an interesting point - Lets assume that company A has been/are about to be awarded gap sar or an element of it (depends on which rumours you believe).
Company A will no doubt also be involved in some way in bidding for long SAR. Should company A hear in Feb 13 that they are unsuccessful in winning a part in long SAR where might that leave their loyalty to implementing a successful gap sar service from July 13?
Likewise if company A is awarded an element of both gap & then long but screws up gap where does that leave long?
SW