Gama Aviation is challenging a decision by authorities in Guernsey and Jersey to replace Gama as the air ambulance service contractor for the Channel Islands. On Thursday, lawyers representing the UK-based business aviation services group told a Guernsey court that a decision by the States of Guernsey’s Health and Social Care (HSC) agency had breached its own procurement policies on transparency and equal treatment for bidding companies.
HSC has awarded a new air ambulance contract to 247 Aviation, which is due to start its duties in December. The company, which is based in Northern Ireland with a fleet consisting of Pilatus PC-12s and a Bombardier Learjet 45, did not respond to AIN’s request for a comment on the case.
Gama Aviation has been servicing the Channel Islands’ air ambulance needs with its fleet of Beechcraft King Air twin turboprops. Its legal team filed for a judicial review with Guernsey’s Royal Court on two grounds: an alleged breach of transparency over a late change of aircraft requirements from Jersey; and a lack of transparency and “rationality” by Guernsey officials in how bidders were rated.
The company is seeking to have the contract decision overturned or at least to be awarded damages over the loss of the contract it has held since August 2020. According to its legal team, attorneys representing the States of Guernsey have indicated that the HSC’s decision is “amenable to a judicial review.”
“In its 43-year history, this is the first time Gama Aviation has asked a court to review a procurement decision,” Gama said in a written statement released to the media. “We firmly believe this procurement process was flawed and that the fairest outcome for all parties is for the competition to be rerun with the necessary changes to ensure a fair and equitable procurement for this vital, lifesaving Island service. In the meantime, we are fully committed to maintain current service levels until the commencement of a new contract, supporting islanders as we have done for the past six years.”
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