MTB,
I'm sorry you have wasted your time posting such a great post but a few counters.
1. The tender wasn't in compliance with the Irish Coastguard tender as it was a non compliant tender which was available to all tenderers To provide alternate solutions provided it was accompanied by a compliant tender (which wasn't selected). For example a fully compliant tender required 5 new aircraft.
2. What was in the public tender, the tender by CHC and the CONTRACT post CHC selection are all different so basing your thoughts on the public tender is flawed. Sorry but there are no penalties in the contract until Jan 1st 2014.
3. The transition plan prior to the ITAR issue, which you said was a last minute issue, also bears to resemblance to the transition plan you alluded to which was about 2 years old, primarily because of the release of the aircraft as you pointed out. However, has the up to date transition plan changed due to the short delay caused by the ITAR issue, which is what this is all about? No. As I said before, only a significant event to those who want to ham it up.