Air transport services

Tender description

BAS wishes to engage the services of a capable technical advisory service. This will require the selected provider to work in close collaboration with its air capability project management team and it’s air unit, both of whom are located at the BAS main offices in Cambridge, England. This technical support is likely to be required over a period of 3 to 5 years The British Antarctic Survey (BAS), an institute of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) – part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) – delivers and enables world-leading interdisciplinary research in the Polar Regions. Through its extensive logistic capability and experience, BAS facilitates access for the international science community to the UK polar research operation. Numerous national and international collaborations, combined with an excellent infrastructure, help sustain a world-leading position for the UK in Antarctic affairs BAS is currently carrying out a major programme of antarctic infrastructure and logistics modernisation. This programme includes the introduction into service of the new polar ship, the RRS Sir David Attenborough, re-development of the science research station at Rothera, Antarctica, facility up-grades at Sub-Antarctica research stations also the commissioning of a new air capability to support science into the future. Collectively the programme is referred to as the Antarctic Modernisation Infrastructure Programme (AIMP). For passenger and cargo transportation to Rothera science research station, BAS operates an intercontinental airbridge operation deploying a Havilland Canada DHC-7 Series 110 (Dash 7) aircraft. Alongside its regular use groups, the airbridge is utilised by personnel involved in the construction projects. With the AIMP carrying out significant construction activity between 2019 and 2024 at Rothera science research station there is a challenging increase in demand on the current operation. In response to this, BAS is seeking now seeking to replace the Dash 7, including the support and services required to operate it within BAS operations. At present an overall air capability solution is yet to be fully defined however commencing in 2020, subject to funding, it is anticipated that BAS will be seeking to procure a new aircraft via a formal competitive tendering exercise. It is anticipated that the procurement exercise will commence in the summer of 2020 with a view to procuring a suitable aircraft for operational deployment in 2022/23. To take this solution forward, BAS wishes to engage the services of a capable technical advisory service. This will require the selected provider to work in close collaboration with its air capability project management team and it’s air unit, both of whom are located at the BAS main offices in Cambridge, England. This technical support is likely to be required over a period of 3 to 5 years. The following statement of requirements sets out the scope of support required. This may be subject to change during this period depending on the particular air solution that is decided upon during the procurement.