EastofKoksy

Seems futile to me. A court might find fault in the process used to award the contract to DFS and order a re-run. However contracts can be awarded on all sorts of qualitative issues as well as objective criteria that will be decided by Gatwick not by a court. I would be very surprised if Gatwick go out of their way to admit they got it wrong!

hangten

Business' are not people, I don't think one taking another to court necessarily leaves the same sour grapes as if you sued your neighbour over his fence (or whatever). It's just business. I don't know the details but in theory it could be something serious like DFS being given the opportunity to change their bid after the close date on advice from Gatwick. Even if Gatwick simply don't provide NATS with enough feedback then they are able to start a legal process.

If Gatwick are forced to go through the process again then NATS can bid again and if Gatwick don't award them the contract they will have to justify to NATS why not. Virgin Trains have recently had a similar experience, this is nothing new:

BBC News - West Coast line: Branson to bid again in two years

45 before POL

Very interesting. As a business having to rerun the contract negotiations. Gatwick have a real chance of really squeezing this deal. Let's see what curve ball comes out of this.

As for the gatwick controllers...I hope you get some sort of stability soon as it's the impact on you that we all hope for a positive outcome.

Data Dad

Full text of the High Court decision is here:

NATS (Services) Ltd v Gatwick Airport Ltd & Anor [2014] EWHC 3133 (TCC) (02 October 2014)

An interesting read - if you can wade through the legal jargon.

Thoughts are with those colleagues at Gatwick who have even more uncertainty to deal with.....

DD

Echo123

Thanks for the link, Data Dad.
As far as I can see, the document covers a request by NATS for an injunction to be placed on GAL preventing them going ahead with the new contract with DFS until the complaint by NATS regarding the tender process is settled by a trial in court.
It also states that if GAL win then NATS have to pay damages but if NATS win then instead of damages GAL has to award them the contract.
I can't see anything that tells me what NATS complaint about the procurement process actually is. Maybe I just missed it!

Mantovani

From what I understand Gatwick and DFS came to an agreement not to divulge details of their contract.

All very intriguing.

Del Prado

Paul Reid leading the DFS bid, Paul Barron a senior advisor to GIP, I suppose a close personal relationship would more likely lead to a lack of transparency.

Mantovani

Birds of a feather...

TCAS FAN

I see that the Safeskys website no longer invites applications for ATCOs at Aberporth, has NATS managed to retain the contract?

Tim91

What's the latest on this situation? It's gone very quiet, what sort of time scale do these legal battles usually pan out for?

Rossoneri

I don't think this legal battle will rage for too long...

GAPSTER

All done...non-disclosed out of court settlement,contract remains with DFS.

vespasia

Love to see where you got that info from Gapster, though I'd be very surprised given that the legal challenge revolves around more issues than the cash.....or are you just being mischievous

Gonzo

No, he's not being mischevious.

vespasia

Be nice if someone could have told us at Gatwick first then!

Gonzo

Check the Hub

GAPSTER

Ta Gonzo.

Wouldn't try to create mischief over an issue like this vespasia, my sympathies are entirely with you guys at LGW.

ZOOKER

Sad to hear this, especially given the identities of 2 of the individuals in the plot.
Best wishes EGKK folks.

Topjet

Although it's non disclosed, won't it have to show up in the annual accounts next year? If anyone is clever enough to workout under what guise it's there as.

Ceannairceach

After being told that we were contesting the contract as "a matter of high principle" it would appear that those same high principles are saleable, just like pretty much everything else these days.