British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is seeking to purchase a small passenger aircraft to work alongside its de Havilland Canada DHC-7 Series 110 (Dash 7). The aircraft will transport science and support teams and cargo between Rothera Research Station on the Antarctic Peninsula and Punta Arenas, Chile.

The procurement, part of a major Antarctic infrastructure modernisation programme, will provide operational resilience and capability, for at least five years commencing in the 2020/21 austral summer.

Rothera Research Station on the Antarctic Peninsula. The runway is visible towards the bottom left.

With a budget of £5.5M BAS is inviting bids from either suppliers who can provide an aircraft complete with any necessary modifications to meet its specification, or suppliers who can offer an aircraft capable of modification by others to set of requirements. Aircraft will carry a passenger and cargo payload of minimum 550kg, and fly 923 nautical miles (nm) from Punta Arenas to Rothera Research Station, landing on a 876m compacted gravel runway.

Rothera Research Station is the hub that supports BAS airborne capability. Its gravel runway supports a fleet of five aircraft, specially adapted for flying in extreme Antarctic climate. Four De Havilland Canada Twin Otters and one De Havilland Canada Dash-7, are each equipped with modifications to allow them to carry out airborne science surveys.

Please find below links to the tender on Contracts Finder and the TED OJEU Notice. They are now live. Please note the tender period closes 31 Jan 2019.

• Contracts finder notice reference URL
• TED OJEU Notice link is 2018/S 243-554643

Source: British Antarctic Survey