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Provision of Police Aviation Services including a Fleet Replacement Programme

West Yorkshire Combined Authority

This public procurement record has 10 releases in its history.

AwardUpdate

03 Jul 2026 at 11:27

Award Notice
AwardUpdate

13 Mar 2026 at 15:23

Award Notice
AwardUpdate

13 Mar 2026 at 15:11

Award Notice
AwardUpdate

19 Feb 2026 at 12:36

Award Notice
AwardUpdate

20 Nov 2025 at 16:35

Award Notice
Award

20 Mar 2025 at 12:34

Award Notice
TenderUpdate

06 Aug 2024 at 07:19

Tender Notice
TenderUpdate

02 Jul 2024 at 16:49

Tender Notice
Tender

26 Jan 2022 at 15:39

Tender Notice
Planning

23 Jun 2021 at 18:06

Planning Notice
Summary of the contracting process

BlueLight Commercial, following the change from West Yorkshire Combined Authority, established a police aviation services framework for UK policing bodies. The requirement covers rotary aircraft and associated police aviation capability, within the air transport services category (CPV 60400000). Lot 1 concerned the lease or potential capital purchase of seven rotary aircraft for police purposes, modified with police-role equipment, for delivery across England and Wales. Lot 2 concerned a fully outsourced police air support service for the London region, including role-equipped helicopters, instrument-rated pilots, the required Police Air Operators Certificate and approvals, line and base maintenance, and spare parts. Lot 3 combined the aircraft and London air support requirements, allowing joint costings rather than a blended service.

The procurement has been awarded. It used a selective competitive procedure with negotiation and a framework agreement, with successive reduction and electronic or written submissions in English. Lot 1 was awarded to Airbus Helicopters UK Limited, with a framework call-off contract signed on 3 March 2025 for £72,587,921 and a 1,710-day period. Later active Lot 1 contract values are £72,909,871, £73,569,871, £74,100,881 and £74,245,841, each signed on 3 March 2025 and covering 1,740 days. The stated Lot 1 estimate was £184,000,000. Evaluation weighted quality at 55%, social value at 10% and price at 35%; seven submissions reached the Standard Selection Questionnaire stage. Lots 2 and 3 were abandoned on 5 July 2024 as not representing value for money.

This procurement shows sustained UK police demand for specialist rotary-wing aviation capability, including aircraft acquisition or leasing, police-role modification, operational air transport and integrated technical support. Suppliers seeking to compete for a future requirement would need credible access to suitable helicopters and the ability to design, modify, certify and maintain them for policing use. Relevant capability also includes instrument-rated pilots, Police Air Operators Certificate arrangements and operational approvals, line and base maintenance, spare-parts support, and systems integration. The later contract variations indicate that training and future-ready mission capability matter as well: the solution incorporated tactical radio equipment, flight-simulator and mission-system training devices, and compatibility with next-generation recording systems. Experience delivering complex, bespoke aviation programmes for public-sector users would strengthen credibility.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Police Aviation Services including a Fleet Replacement Programme

Notice Description

This procurement aims to establish a police aviation services Framework Agreement. Immediately following the award of the Framework Agreement, WYCA intends to enter into two initial call-off contracts for: LOT 1. The lease or capital purchase of seven rotary aircraft for the police purpose, such aircraft to be modified with police role equipment; and LOT 2. The delivery of an outsourced police air support service to the London region. Or awarding under LOT 3 - A combination of Lots 1 and 2.

Lot Information

The Lease (or Potential Capital Purchase) of Rotary Aircraft

Award of a Call-off Contract under Lot 1 The Lease (or Potential Capital Purchase) of Rotary Aircraft of the Framework Agreement BLCAVIATION003 Provision of Police Aviation Services including a Fleet Replacement Programme. This is for the purchase of 7 Rotary Aircraft for police purpose. Above figure is an estimate of potential contract value pending finalisation of design of the Operational Helicopter (Rotary Aircraft)

The Delivery of an Outsourced Police Air Support Service to the London Region

Delivery of a Police Air Support service to the London Region. NPAS is looking to meet the specific Metropolitan Police and London Region availability and user requirements through a full turnkey police aviation contract. The contract will be for a service provision based upon availability. It will include fully role equipped police helicopters, instrument rated pilots and the Police Air Operators Certificate (PAOC) and approvals required to deliver a police aviation service. In addition, line and base maintenance provision and spare parts required to meet the specific London operational user requirement for availability of service and rates of flying. Additional information: WYCA is establishing a 6-year Framework Agreement (4 years plus an optional extension of 2 years). It is anticipated that the call off contract length for Lot 2 is: transition period (inclusive of obtaining PAOC) plus a 10-year contract period.

A Combination of Lots 1 and 2

A combination of Lots 1 & 2. This lot will give suppliers the opportunity to bid for both lots 1 & 2 in order to provide further efficiencies. This lot is not intended to provide a blended service but to allow suppliers to submit joint costings. Additional information: Please note the estimated value of PS276,680,000 for Lot 3 is based on the potential value over the full framework term. It is envisaged that the value for the initial call-off contracts will be PS173,180,000.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-02bf85
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/062687-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planning Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive procedure with negotiation
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

CPV Codes

34711500 - Helicopters

60400000 - Air transport services

60424100 - Hire of aircraft with crew

60440000 - Aerial and related services

60444000 - Aircraft-operation services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£276,680,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
£553,360,000 £100M-£1B
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£551,414,385 £100M-£1B

Notice Dates

Publication Date
3 Jul 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
28 Feb 2022Expired
Future Notice Date
8 Dec 2021Expired
Award Date
21 Feb 20251 years ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active, Unsuccessful
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
West Yorkshire Combined Authority
Additional Buyers

BlueLight Commercial Limited

West Yorkshire Combined Authority (or such other successor body, company, organisation who shall have the responsibility of being the contracting authority of the National Police Air Service or any part or parts thereof)

Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LEEDS
Postcode
LS1 2DE
Postcode Area
Leeds
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLE Yorkshire and The Humber
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLE4 West Yorkshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLE42 Leeds
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Leeds
Electoral Ward
Little London & Woodhouse
Westminster Constituency
Leeds Central and Headingley

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
2
Supplier Names

Airbus Helicopters UK Limited

Airbus Helicopters UK Ltd

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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