Defence Search and Rescue Services (DSARS) - Australia

[rickyknee]

A Request for Tender has been issued for future SAR and related services to the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
I don't have privileges to post a hyperlink or url, but it is up on the AusTender website (top search result for keywords "search and rescue").
It is being offered for an initial contract term of 10 years, with optional extensions out to 15 years.

[Franks Town]

It’s a big one so plenty in for it. Toll , CHC , Babcock et al.

RFT Release

31 Mar 2025

Tender Response Period

31 Mar 2025 - 10 Jul 2025

Tender Evaluation

Jul 2025 - Nov 2025

ODIA / Contract Negotiations

Jan 2026 - Jul 2026

Contract Signature / Effective Date

Sep 2026

Operative Date

Sep 2028

Final Operational Capability

Sep 2030

[[email protected]]

Let's hope they learn a lesson from the Irish CG fiasco.

[[email protected]]

Will this service be dedicated to the ADF or will it cover civilian rescue as well?

[Franks Town]

15 THIRD PARTY SAR SERVICES
15.1 Third Party SAR Services 15.1.1 The Contractor may provide Third Party SAR Services without obtaining prior Approval from the Commonwealth

T&C apply.

[SLFMS]

Originally Posted by [email protected]

Will this service be dedicated to the ADF or will it cover civilian rescue as well?

The current contract is ADF SAR primarily but aircraft can be released for civilian rescue with Defence approval.
It does not happen very often as all but one base are near civilian EMS/SAR bases.
It is good PR for Defence but they are also paying primarily for ejection recovery, which is not much use if the asset is not available.

[Doors Off]

Hopefully the RAAF take the lead on this tender. A little too much conflict of interest from the RAN and Army. Reservist one day, employee of tendering company the next day. Plus the ole, “are you planning on getting out soon mate/Sir? We’d love to have you onboard if you are”.

[rrekn]

So I hear Gunny has left Toll due to a conflict of interest issue...

[Doors Off]

Originally Posted by rrekn

So I hear Gunny has left Toll due to a conflict of interest issue...

Strewth!! Something about to break the news?

[Manual Governor]

Word is that Lifeflight have paired up with CHC for this tender.
How is a ‘not for profit’ allowed to bid on a commercial defence contract and undercut the bid of other operators by raising funds from the community? Are they telling the public the funds are for lifesaving, not support to the military? Shouldn’t NFPs be excluded from these types of bids?
Genuine question….i would’ve thought defence would require a solid financial schedule to fund the bid, not the hope that they can raise enough by tin rattling.

[The Ozzie BOY]

The worst part about Lifeflight is that they say that they dont charge anybody . BULL S..T , We the TAX PAYERS are paying for this through a contract that they have with the QLD Govt.1.2 BILLION DOLLARS OVER 10 YEARS ( “We’ve been gratified by the support from the Queensland Government, which in 2023 committed to a $1.2 billion funding agreement over 10 years for our helicopter operations in Queensland.) https://www.lifeflight.org.au/news/l...viation-award/

[Turkeyslapper]

Originally Posted by The Ozzie BOY

The worst part about Lifeflight is that they say that they dont charge anybody . BULL S..T , We the TAX PAYERS are paying for this through a contract that they have with the QLD Govt.1.2 BILLION DOLLARS OVER 10 YEARS ( “We’ve been gratified by the support from the Queensland Government, which in 2023 committed to a $1.2 billion funding agreement over 10 years for our helicopter operations in Queensland.) https://www.lifeflight.org.au/news/l...viation-award/

So, what’s wrong with a business actually having a contract? Im fairly certain they no longer have major sponsorship either? As far as I’m aware, the individuals who need this service aren’t charged? Have you actually worked for them?

Love or hate LF, they’ve been an innovator over decades and have taken risks with establishing services - off the bat, the Toowoomba base operated for a couple of years with zero government funding, opposition from the incumbent down the hill, NVGs where introduced before it was a contractual requirement and again, with zero government funding initially, I could go on. Not a perfect organisation either but who is?

No company is perfect and without lobbyists, people or contacts on the inside and at times questionable priorities.

How about we lay off the attacks and objectively discuss the contenders? May the best company win :-).

And no, I don’t work for LF.

[Manual Governor]

Not an attack, I thought a legitimate question.
How can a NFP bid for a commercial defence contract? Is there a guarantee that funds raised in Queensland for the rescue helicopters aren’t being used on a Defence contract, funded by taxes so essentially the taxpayer if donating is paying twice for the same service?
Isn’t there some sort of ethical measure that should be applied here by Defence?

‘May he with the best government contacts and people in positions of power win’ you mean.
I’ll leave it up to you to speculate who that is.

[The Ozzie BOY]

Nothing is wrong with a contract, but they keep saying that they don’t charge when we the people are paying for it. is wrong. REMENBER Both Careflight and LifeFlight started off after argument with SLSA. I know too much about this fight.

[That lights normal!]

I’m pretty sure Life Flight has several business entities. One is NFP, the other is not.

One would assume the NFP operates the community EMS machines, and the “normal” (commercial) side would be tendering for the DEFAS contract

[nowherespecial]

The LFA Commercial arm (some commercial work in QLD, some in VIC with the police) subsidised the main non for profit ambulance contract in Queensland for years until Queensland Health stepped up to cover the funding gap about 2 years ago.