New Irish HEMS tender

[Declan275]

As per the title, really. Seems to be a move to state fund the existing ICAA service based on Cork.

https://irl.eu-supply.com/ctm/Supplier/PublicPurchase/211456/0/0?returnUrl=ctm/Supplier/publictenders&b=ETENDERS_SIMPLE

[ReefPilot]

Any odds on the operator? Presume Sloane will bid. Wonder if there'll be a preference on operators with an EASA AOC vs. CAA AOC.....

[Declan275]

No idea, but I’m guessing as the incumbent operator, Sloane will have an advantage so long as costs etc are equal.

[WC224]

Any odds on the operator? Presume Sloane will bid. Wonder if there'll be a preference on operators with an EASA AOC vs. CAA AOC.....
The tender stipulates an EASA AOC, and reminds applicants that UK left EU last year. Could be an issue for Sloane, AFAIK they are operating G reg in Ireland currently, suggesting their Irish contract is on a CAA cert

[ReefPilot]

The tender stipulates an EASA AOC, and reminds applicants that UK left EU last year. Could be an issue for Sloane, AFAIK they are operating G reg in Ireland currently, suggesting their Irish contract is on a CAA cert

wow, that’s big. Not sure Sloane have an EASA AOC but maybe an office in ROI. Definitely on G reg aircraft in Cork.
Will need EASA licensed pilots then too.
Will prob rule out a fair few UK operators, not too many options in ROI. Maybe Executive? Otherwise it’ll be a continental operator….

Any French interest??

[WC224]

wow, that’s big. Not sure Sloane have an EASA AOC but maybe an office in ROI. Definitely on G reg aircraft in Cork.
Will need EASA licensed pilots then too.
Will prob rule out a fair few UK operators, not too many options in ROI. Maybe Executive? Otherwise it’ll be a continental operator….

Any French interest??


I'm not in France at the moment, so perhaps a bit out of the loop, but I expect there will be interest. In fact, I'm sure other European players are already working on this. It's a good opportunity to get into Ireland. There's a bit of work in it though, the provider needs to have an operating base in County Cork... and the submissions must be in by April 28. That's a tight timeline in any language 🙂

[WC224]

Has anyone heard an update on this, it seems like a long time since it was advertised.

[EESDL]

Classic
We can’t possibly have an economic border between UK and Ireland but you must have an EASA licence………
well done Schapps for handling that one

[[email protected]]

well done Schapps for handling that one yet another Brexit bungle - along with the fishermen and the farmers we aviators have been pushed under the bus. That one with the fictitious £350 million for the NHS on it.

[Franks Town]

Rumour is a Gulf Med with the 135.

[Declan275]

Rumour is a Gulf Med with the 135.

And twin pilot no less.

[ReefPilot]

That’s an interesting one. 135 prob best type for the role.

Rumour has it Sloane have taken the NI Air Ambo contract….

[WC224]

Commercial Court to hear HSE medical helicopter contract dispute Tuesday, 6 Sep A dispute over the awarding of a contract to provide emergency medical helicopter services for the HSE in the southwest of the country has been admitted to the fast-track Commercial Court list.

The action has been brought by UK-based Sloane Helicopters Limited against the HSE decision to award a contract for the provision of emergency medical services based in Co Cork to serve the southwest of the country for a period of 24 months, starting from later this year.

The HSE anticipates that this service will carry out some 50 missions per month.

Last June Sloane was informed that its tender for the service had not been successful, and the public contract had been given to Maltese based Gulf Med Aviation Ltd.

In High Court proceedings aimed at overturning that decision Sloane claims the decision is flawed and unlawful, and in breach of EU Directives and Regulations.

It claims that the HSE failed to properly evaluate its tender in a fair and proper manner.

Irrelevant matters were taken into consideration when the tenders were being assessed, it is also claimed.

One of the issues raised by the company is that the successful entity scored substantially higher under certain criteria in the assessment of the respective tenders than Sloane did.

This Sloane claims is despite the fact that Gulf Med has no experience in operating the services in Ireland and has no pilots based in Ireland despite there being a requirement to have the services operational within a period of three months from the date of the contract award.

It is also claimed that the HSE accepted "an abnormally low tender".

It claims the successful bid is 38% lower than its bid.

The HSE denies the claims and the action is being fully opposed.

The matter was admitted to the list by Mr Justice Denis McDonald on Tuesday.

The judge said that he was satisfied that the dispute was a suitable matter to be heard by the Commercial Court.

In his ruling, Mr Justice Denis McDonald noted the parties' desire for the matter to be heard as soon as possible.

The action will return before the court after the new legal year commences in October.

[ersa]

38% lower :ugh:

[[email protected]]

it'll be interesting to see how that decision to go for the lowest bidder plays out in court.

[Fostex]

That’s an interesting one. 135 prob best type for the role.

Rumour has it Sloane have taken the NI Air Ambo contract….

Now official, starts Saturday am.

​​​​​​​https://airambulanceni.org/air-ambulance-ni-awards-contract-to-sloane-helicopters-ltd/

[ReefPilot]

Now official, starts Saturday am.

https://airambulanceni.org/air-ambulance-ni-awards-contract-to-sloane-helicopters-ltd/


Was waiting for that announcement, thought my sources were letting me down! Bloody quick start date....