Not much has been said in this thread regarding what the purpose of this procurement actually is. In case someone should be interested, the following bits and pieces are based on a presentation held for the potential bidders on the 10th of November 2011.
The Whitepaper
Proposition for decision to acquire new rescue helicopter etc. for the period of 2013–2020 states:
The Parliament agrees that Ministry of Justice- and the Police can within a frame of 16 800 Mill NOK (approx. 2 300 millon Euro):
- Enter into a purchase agreement for up to 16 rescue helicopter in the class of 10-20 ton complete with spare parts, equipment- and training packages for mainland of Norway for planned phase-in period 2016–2020. The agreement shall also include options of up to six rescue helicopter of same type.
- Adjust infrastructure, including building adaptation for the selected helicopter type at different bases in addition to the landing possibilities at hospitals that is utilised by the SAR helicopter today
- Establish a contract of long term maintenance and logistics support to support the helicopters operation inside the allocated budget for the whole contract period.
The procurement is in cooperation between Norway and Iceland.
Overall Concept and Purpose (Norway)
Provide year-round safety for people in the SAR region at sea, in inaccessible terrain, and in difficult situations where other resources are insufficient.
- Procure up to 16 new SAR helicopters for the current six SAR operating bases in Norway
- With the aim of keeping minimum of one serviceable helicopter per base 24 hours a day all year round, with a target of 100% readiness.
- The reaction time is 15 minutes.
- The availability requirements will be measured at the interface between the Turnkey provision and the equipment and services performed in-house (by the Operator).
- The main objective is to enable the Operator to obtain the readiness targets, however taking into account life cycle cost effects.
- The final combination of the number of helicopters, availability requirements, and maintenance and logistics services, will hence be subject to negotiations.
Capabilities
The range and main capabilities for the Norwegian SAR helicopters have been summarised in four key objectives:
- To have the capacity to initiate rescue of 20 persons in distress at sea at any point within a range of 150 nautical miles directly out from the straight baseline within two hours and return with the rescuees to a safe place on land. In addition, they must be able to assist two persons at the far perimeter of the Norwegian SAR region with better effect than today. (That is about 400 NM out form the baseline. I believe the area of responsibility sector was recently extended to the 90 degrees N, which would add another 300 NM to this requirement!)
- To assist persons in distress on land and in inaccessible terrain, and in other emergency situations where other resources are insufficient, quickly and in a safe manner year-round. (Eg. OGE hover at 8 100 feet, operate down to about minus 50 degrees)
- To continue the present established practice to conduct air ambulance services, where the health service’s own helicopters are unsuitable.
- To carry out other missions of public importance (military missions, support to special police missions, specialised fire fighting, emergency relief, environmental protection, and other missions of public interest aimed at protecting assets or the environment).
Delivery of SAR helicopters and lifecycle support materials and services
The ILS solution will include all:
- life-cycle support logistics materials and
- services and
- some training and
- maintenance services, (not applicable for Iceland)
- during the implementation phase and for an envisaged duration of ten years
The procurement will seek out a Turnkey provider, with only one contractual interface between the Ministry and the chosen provider.
- Some assets (e.g. base facilities) and services (e.g. line maintenance) shall be provided or undertaken by the Ministry,
- Some assets and services will be made available to the Bidders for incorporation in the Turnkey solution if considered appropriate by the Bidder.
In-house assets and services:
- Operated by 330 sqd as today (Air Force)
- SAR operating bases as today (6 bases on the mainland)
- Line maintenance
Iceland
The Icelandic Government has decided to procure an initial order of
- one new long-range rescue helicopter
- with a purchase option of two more helicopters.
Iceland intends to procure, as far as it is feasible, the same helicopters as Norway, thereby achieving efficiency and economies of scale.
- Iceland will perform line and base maintenance in-house, and acquire other necessary services.
Regulatory framework (only Norway)
It is the Ministry’s objective that the procurement shall be open to both military and civil certified helicopters, and military and civil registration. It is thus the Ministry’s objective that the Candidate may freely choose what he considers most advantageous in order to meet the Ministry’s operational, functional and technical requirements.
The intended helicopter shall prove evidence that it will hold a civil EASA type certificate or military qualification from recognised authority at the latest when preferred bidder is selected.
- The Ministry intention is not to close the question of helicopter register until the time of selecting the preferred bidder, based on his best overall offer.
- Please note that in order to allow a change in the future register (i.e. to a civil register) it is required that operational flexibility in relation to SAR and air ambulance operations is upheld.
- Whether this is obtainable is pending clarifications from the MoD, CAA-N and EASA.
- Hence, the Ministry reserves the right to revisit the required regulatory regime as necessary due to EASAs response, or if otherwise required to do so in order to comply with the prerequisite of operational flexibility.
Options
The Options (6+2) will be considered called for:
- At Svalbard to replace the current SAR helicopters (Presently one AWSAR AS332L1/ one AS365N2)
- On the mainland Norway:
–in case of loss of a Helicopter,
–if the number of SAR Operating Bases at the Norwegian mainland should be increased in the future, or
–due to any other presently unforeseen or uncontrollable circumstance.
Iceland to replace existing SAR helicopters
The Options shall be valid for a maximum period equalling the length of the maintenance and logistics services.
Award Criteria
Following the negotiations, the contract will be awarded to the Bidder with the economically most advantageous offer, as further detailed in the ITT. The award criteria will be:
Award criteria and Weight
Performance/Quality - 48%
Price - 33%
Risk - 7%
Reliability of delivery - 12%