Bristow, Airbus, EEA & Serco make shortlist for UKSAR2G


Bristow has a mixed fleet of Sikorsky S-92s (pictured) and Leonardo AW189s serving the existing UK SAR contract. Greg Caygill Photo

The U.K. Maritime and Coastguard Agency has announced the shortlisted companies who are being invited to tender for its second-generation search-and-rescue program (known as UKSAR2G) — a bumper 10-year contract set to begin in 2024.

Bristow Helicopters has been delivering the the U.K.’s search-and-rescue (SAR) helicopter service on behalf of the coastguard since 2013, operating a fleet of 10 Sikorsky S-92s and 11 Leonardo AW189s from 10 strategically located bases around the U.K.

And Bristow is among the companies on the shortlist for the new program, which calls for the next generation of SAR helicopters, planes and remotely piloted drones to help the coastguard find and rescue people who need help even more quickly.

Bristow is joined by EEA Helicopters Operations B.V. and Serco Limited as the shortlisted bidders for Lot 1 (helicopters with standard capacity for short-range rescue work) and Lot 2 (larger capacity helicopters for long range/multiple casualty rescues).

Lot 3 calls for fixed-wing, manned and “potentially unmanned” aircraft for rapid search, surveillance, and pollution identification, with 2Excel Aviation (the current provider of SAR planes for UK SAR), EEA, Elbit Systems UK, and Serco Limited shortlisted.

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Lot 4 is a combined solution that contains all the requirements for Lots 1, 2 and 3, but provided by one supplier/consortium. The shortlisted companies are Airbus Helicopters UK, Bristow, EEA, and Serco.

Airbus announced its intention to bid for the program, in partnership with Draken Europe, in March.

The tender calls for “innovative solutions” to meet the complex demands of all the emergency services and other government departments that benefit from coastguard aviation.

“Our extensive data has been used to develop the tools that will enable bidders for UKSAR2G to include cutting-edge, greener technology that will continue to meet the complex demands of Her Majesty’s Coastguard long into the future,” said Damien Oliver, senior responsible owner for UKSAR2G.

“This is a really exciting programme that will continue to protect the public using state-of the-art aviation technology.”

UKSAR2G is to be a cross-government aviation service that supports not just the coastguard, but also the police in searches for lost or missing people, and the National Health Service in providing interfacility transfers.

The shortlisted companies have until the end of August 2021 to provide their responses, with the contract award expected in mid-2022.

The transition from the current contract will start on Sept. 30, 2024, running through to the end of 2026.

Last September, Bristow secured a contract extension to Dec. 31, 2026, designed to overlap the start of the new service, to help ensure a smooth transition of aviation services.

  
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