Helicopter Tender Announced

[Frank]

Well Guys,

It has finally been announced, the tender for the new helicopters.  Here are the requirements of the tender:

Quote

Provision of Light Utility and Utility Military helicopters. 2 Light Utility Military Helicopters mainly for pilot training but also which may be configured for air ambulance, VIP transport and limited command and control. 4 Utility Military Helicopters (with an option for two (2) additional Utility Military Helicopters) mainly for interoperability training with the Army, military manoeuvres, air ambulance, casevac and limited air lift and troop transport for up to eight fully equipped troops

The Governments eTender website can be found here:

http://www.etenders.gov.ie

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Below you will find links to pictures of some of the helicopters mentioned as possible contenders for the tender:

Agusta A-109

Agusta Bell AB-412

Eurocopter EC135

Eurocopter EC145

Eurocopter EC635

Aerospatiale AS332M1 Super Puma (Similar to Cougar)

Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk

Sikorsky S-76

-----------------------------------------


Regards,

Frank.

[IAS]

It's nice to see that both are required to be military variants - would this not exclude the EC135(635 instead) and the EC145(no military variant)?

I assume that if civil types are chosen then like the MLH tender it would be open to legal action?

IAS

[Frank]

The Irish Independent
Don Lavery

Three of the worlds leading helicopter manufacturers are to compete for a multimillion Euro order for a new fleet of up to eight helicopters for the Irish Air Corps as it assumes a more traditional military role.

An initial order for two light helicopters for training and four utility helicopters able to carry eight soldier will allow a platoon of 32 soldier to be airlifted in one go.

Tenders for the new fleet, which were advertised publicly yesterday, also contain an option for two more utility helicopters.

With the Search and Rescue role all but removed form the Air Corps, the force is now providing more direct support for the Army.

The famous US Black Hawk is know to be a favourite among some sections of the Defence Forces after Irish Special Forces soldiers used similar Australian Army helicopters in East Timor.

Eurocopter is likely to put its EC-135 and EC-145 helicopters into the hat for the new contract.

[Frank]

Links to helicopter manufacturers websites

Agusta Military Helicopters

Eurocopter Military Helicopters

Sikorsky Military Helicopters

[pilatus]

this is very interesting indeed .i did not hear of the super puma in the mix!and if the blackhawk is seen as no1choice for some of the defence forces i hope that it will be taken into serious consideration?!but what types do you think we will get? '>

[Frank]

Here's the full text of the tender document, to see it on the eTenders website click on the link below:

http://www.etenders.gov.ie/search/search_show.aspx?ID=MAY025215


Title: IRL-Dublin: helicopters
Awarding Authority: Department of Defence
Publication date: 29-May-2004
Application Deadline:  
Tender Deadline Date: 23-Jul-2004
Tender Deadline Time: 12:00
Notice Type: Tenders
Has Documents: No
Abstract: Provision of Light Utility and Utility Military Helicopters.
2 Light Utility Military Helicopters mainly for pilot training but also which may be configured for air ambulance, VIP transport and limited command and control. 4 Utility Military Helicopters (with an option for two (2) additional Utility Military Helicopters) mainly for interoperability training with the Army, military manoeuvres, air ambulance, casevac and limited air lift and troop transport for up to eight fully equipped troops.
CPV: 35312000.
 


Additional Documents

There are no additional documents attached to this notice.  
 


Contact Information

Main Contact: john.hanney@defence.irlgov.ie
Admin Contact: N/a
Technical Contact: N/a
Other Contact: N/a
 


Full Notice Text

CONTRACT NOTICE
Supplies
This contract is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA): No.

SECTION I: CONTRACTING AUTHORITY

I.1) Official name and address of the contracting authority: Department of Defence, Att: Contracts Manager, Colaiste Caoimhin, Mobhi Road, Glasnevin, IRL-Dublin 9. Tel.: 00353-1-8042402. Fax: 00353-1-6706472. E-mail: john.hanney@defence.irlgov.ie URL: www.defence.ie.

I.2) Address from which further information can be obtained: Department of Defence, Att: Helen Masterson, Colaiste Caoimhin, Mobhi Road, Glasnevin, IRL-Dublin 9. Tel.: 00353-1-8042361. Fax: 00353-1-6706472. E-mail: helen.masterson@defence.irlgov.ie URL: www.defence.ie.

I.3) Address from which documentation may be obtained: Department of Defence, Att: Helen Masterson, Colaiste Caoimhin, Mobhi Road, Glasnevin, IRL-Dublin 9. Tel.: 00353-1-8042361. Fax: 00353-1-6706472. E-mail: helen.masterson@defence.irlgov.ie URL: www.defence.ie.

I.4) Address to which tenders/requests to participate must be sent: As in I.1.

I.5) Type of contracting authority: Central level.

SECTION II: OBJECT OF THE CONTRACT

II.1) Description

II.1.4) Framework agreement: No.

II.1.5) Title attributed to the contract by the contracting authority: Provision of Light Utility and Utility Military Helicopters.

II.1.6) Description/object of the contract: 2 Light Utility Military Helicopters mainly for pilot training but also which may be configured for air ambulance, VIP transport and limited command and control. 4 Utility Military Helicopters (with an option for two (2) additional Utility Military Helicopters) mainly for interoperability training with the Army, military manoeuvres, air ambulance, casevac and limited air
lift and troop transport for up to eight fully equipped troops.

II.1.7) Site or location of works, place of delivery or performance: Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, Co. Dublin.

II.1. Nomenclature

II.1.8.1) Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV): 35312000.

II.1.9) Division into lots: No.

II.1.10) Will variants be accepted: No.

II.2) Quantity or scope of the contract

II.2.1) Total quantity or scope: Six (6) Military Helicopters (with an option for two (2) additional Military helicopters).

II.2.2) Options. Description and time when they may be exercised: Not applicable.

II.3) Duration of the contract or time limit for completion: 12 months from the award of the contract.

SECTION III: LEGAL, ECONOMIC, FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION

III.1) Conditions relating to the contract

III.1.1) Deposits and guarantees required: Not applicable.

III.1.2) Main terms of financing and payment and/or reference to the relevant provisions: As per request for Tender document.

III.1.3) Legal form to be taken by the grouping of suppliers, contractors or service providers to whom the contract is awarded: Before the Contract may be awarded to a group of suppliers, they will be required to register jointly as a company or, in any grouping of suppliers, one supplier must assume the role of main contractor. All other suppliers will be sub-contractors.

III.2) Conditions for participation

III.2.1) Information concerning the personal situation of the contractor, supplier or service provider and information and formalities necessary for the evaluation of the minimum economic, financial and technical capacity required: The Contractor will be required to produce a valid Tax Clearance Certificate (if Irish Residents) or a Statement from the Irish Revenue Commissioners that they are satisfied of his suitability to be awarded the contract (if non Irish Resident).

III.2.1.1) Legal position - means of proof required: Status of
manufacturer or supplier (evidence that he is a properly established company/individual to supply helicopters).

III.2.1.2) Economic and financial capacity - means of proof required: Evidence of Economic and financial standing will be required.

III.2.1.3) Technical capacity - means of proof required: Evidence of the Tenderers manufacturing/supplying capacity will be required.

SECTION IV: PROCEDURE

IV.1) Type of procedure: Open.

IV.1.2) Justification for the choice of accelerated procedure: Not applicable.

IV.2) Award criteria: The most economically advantageous tender in terms of:  Criteria as stated below:

1: Functional characteristics, operational suitability and technical merit;
2: Maintenance, technical support and after-sales service;
3: Tender prices;
4: Life cycle costs over 20 years;
5: Training;
6: Warranties;
7: Delivery period.

In descending order of priority: Yes.

IV.3) Administrative information

IV.3.1) Reference number attributed to the file by the contracting authority: CON/117/2004.

IV.3.2) Conditions for obtaining contract document and additional documents: Terms and method of payment: Not applicable.

IV.3.3) Time-limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate: 23.7.2004. Time: 12:00.

IV.3.5) Language or languages in which tenders or requests to participate can be drawn up: English.

IV.3.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain its tender: 120 days from the deadline stated for receipt of tenders.

IV.3.7) Conditions for opening tenders

IV.3.7.1) Persons authorised to be present at the opening of tenders: Not applicable.

IV.3.7.2) Date, time and place: Not applicable.

SECTION VI: OTHER INFORMATION

VI.1) Non-mandatory notice: No.

VI.2) Indication whether this procurement is a recurrent one and the estimated timing for further notices to be published: Not applicable.

VI.3) The contract relates to a project/programme financed by EU funds: No.

VI.4) Additional information:

II.1.2) Type of supplies contract (in case of supplies contract): Purchase, Lease.

VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice: 21.5.2004.
 


Further Information

Information added to the notice since publication.

30-Jun-2004 Deadline Date(s) Changed
The deadline date was changed from 23-Jul-2004 to 03/08/2004.

[Frank]

From the Irish Independent:

Helicopter firms to battle again for €50m contract
Don Lavery

THREE companies that battled it out to win a €100m helicopter contract - subsequently cancelled by Defence Minister Michael Smith - are to compete again to supply a new fleet of choppers to the Air Corps.

British-Italian firm Agusta-Westland said yesterday that they would be submitting their A-109 helicopter, which has recently been bought by South Africa, and their new, larger AB-139 chopper for the new contract, worth about €50m.

Thirty-five of the 139s have been bought by the US Coast Guard and it has been offered to New Zealand to replace their Vietnam War-era fleet of Huey helicopters.

It is expected that the US Blackhawk will be among the choppers to be offered to the State.

An initial multi-million euro order for two light training helicopters and for four utility choppers, has been sought by the Department of Defence.

US firm Sikorsky, which won the 2002 contract that was then cancelled amid threats of legal action, are to offer either their S-76 or their famous Blackhawk transport helicopter, featured in the film 'Blackhawk Down'.

Irish Army Rangers are familiar with the Blackhawk as they took part in air mobile operations in East Timor, where they were flown by the Australian Army.

Eurocopter are likely to propose their EC-135 and EC-145 helicopters for the new contract.

Manufacturers must provide details to the Air Corps in a certain order. Firstly by operational suitability and technical merit, secondly by maintenance, technical support, after sales service and, thirdly, by price.

The new fleet of utility helicopters would replace the small Alouette, Dauphin and Gazelle aircraft in the Air Corps.

There is still a requirement for at least two medium-lift helicopters, able to carry the armed reconnaisance jeeps used by the Army Ranger Wing.

In the current operations in Liberia, giant Ukrainian Army Mi-26 helicopters were used to fly Irish Army jeeps and armoured cars on missions hundreds of kilometres from their base in Monrovia.

[MatRotor]

if sikorsky are only offering the blackhawk, is this suitable for pilot training? considering the us military use another type for training i can't remember which off the top off my head.

[alpha foxtrot 07]

the blackhawk would not be used for primary training

[Buran]

i think they would see the S76 used for training, but that would seem to be too much helicopter for that role.

Does the tender need to be all or nothing? like how would 2 ec135 plus 4 blackhawks go down with people?

[IAS]

Not as well as 2 x EC635s and 6 x Blackhawks '>

IAS

[Imshi-Yallah]

Why not just privatise basic flying training and invest the savings in more MLs

[Frank]

Originally posted by TAJ on the "Heli tenders expected shortly" thread:


Tender info

Having seen the tender in full, all of these are clearly stated requirements-the helis will be delivered to this standard.

Both helicopters have to be NVE capable(cockpit and external lighting).
Both helis will have SAR winches.
Light heli will have 1 sliding door.
Utility heli will have sliding door on both sides.
External load capability for light: 1000kg min
External load for utility: 1500kg min
Wire protection equipment.
Crash worthy troop seating.
Glass cockpits and IFR capable.
Door mounts for GPMG's on both sides of the larger heli.

I saved the best for last.

[pilatus]

well if the external load is 1500kg that means the A109 is out of the competition as it only has a 1000kg slung cargo capability.

[sealion]

Still in the running for the light heli role tho. Is it prangable?