CHC Ireland, the current provider of the Irish Coast Guard air search and rescue service, is challenging Transport Minister Eamon Ryan’s decision to modify the contract awarded to rival Bristow Ireland, claiming it is unlawful and breaches public procurement law.
Last year, the suspension on the award of the €800m contract to Bristow was lifted after the Court of Appeal backed a High Court decision, despite opposition from CHC, who now has new proceedings in the Commercial Court regarding the modified contract.
CHC asserts that the minister’s approval of the modified contract for Bristow is invalid, citing fundamental errors of fact and law, irrationality, and breaches of natural and constitutional justice, as well as failure to conduct a new procurement procedure for the modified contract.
Differences in the modified contract include Bristow not needing to build a new helicopter hangar in Shannon, potential changes in the operational base from Shannon Airport, modifications in service authorizations, and alterations in personnel transfers, which CHC argues could impact competition and tender prices. The case will be reviewed by the court later this month.
