The Civil Protection tender for the rental of a helitanker has already been approved by decree and is only awaiting publication in the European Journal. The specifications for the three-year supply of helicopters, two Superpumas plus 11 "light" ones, however, have been rewritten and the tender is about to start again: «Sardinia will have its own firefighting air fleet also for the 2024 season».
Providing reassurances is the regional councilor for the environment, Marco Porcu, who intervenes after the publication of the news on the first regional contract that went unused. No company has presented proposals to guarantee air service against fires until 2026 (excluding Canadair): the fear is that the island will remain undefended on the fire front.
It won't be like this, assures Porcu: «We have made 20 million and 400 thousand euros available in the budget. Almost two million more than the previous contract, for which 18.6 million had been allocated. The starting bid for the last tender was 15.7 million." So if the companies that could have made the helicopters available did not participate, according to the councilor it is not due to an economic issue or budget limitations.
«In reality , for the first time Sicily and Lombardy have issued their own tender, taking example from the Sardinian model», says Porcu, «so the market conditions have changed compared to the past and some companies have joined their tenders». Which, according to the councilor, were not necessarily more attractive than the Sardinian one: «I think they were five-yearly», he explains, so they gave more guarantees to amortize the costs. «But our request was for 11 helicopters plus the two heavy ones, and there are not many companies that can offer them as a single package». For this reason , the tender currently being prepared "will be in several lots". The objective is to involve smaller companies, but in greater numbers, until their needs are covered. As long as everything goes well.
What also remains what the Court of Auditors maintains: given how much is spent every year, and also in light of the disputes with the service providers, it would be better for Sardinia to buy the helicopters: «It's not certain», replies Porcu, «because there would be a need of trained pilots, of mechanics, then there are maintenance costs to be taken into account. In addition, obviously, to those for the purchase of vehicles. And a helicopter", calculates the councilor, "can cost more than a few million. Would it really be that convenient?".
So, for now we go to tender for the rental service. Award times? «One month, 40 days at most», predicts the councilor.
Enrico Fresu