The Ministry of Justice and Public Security has informed the four bidders that further negotiations will be held with the two companies AgustaWestland and Eurocopter for the replacement of the current Sea King fleet.

Norway intends to procure up to 16 new SAR helicopters with an option for additional 6. The project target is that the contract will be awarded by the end of 2013 and the last Sea King phased out by end 2020.

The process for the acquisition of new SAR helicopters commenced on 21st October 2011 by an invitation to a pre-qualification process formally announced on the public Doffin/TED system. The Invitation to Tender (ITT) was released on 12. July 2012 and the offers received from the four bidders on 18th December 2012.

After evaluation and negotiations during spring 2013 the Ministry has, based on offers received on 7. June 2013, selected the two bidders with the highest overall results for further negotiations.

Other Bidders will be put on hold. The Bidders put on hold may only be called to re-enter the competition if, for some reason, one of the remaining participants withdraws, or any other reason necessitates to call on a rejected bidder to sustain a competitive environment.

The Ministry has in its letter thanked the bidders put on hold for their significant contribution to the process. The bidders have put a lot of efforts in the process which has contributed to a good and strong competition for the delivery of the new SAR helicopters.

[HeliHub.com editor note – we understand that types previously considered include the NH90,  Sikorsky S92 and the Bell-Boeing V-22]