AMSA occasionally seeks help and support from private companies to deliver its Search and Rescue (SAR) services.

We also have arrangements with some Federal, State and Territory governments and agencies as well as fixed wing and helicopter operators to provide SAR services on an opportunity basis.

Opportunity based services

Opportunity based services refer to services an operator might provide to AMSA if that operator has appropriate aircraft and crew available to perform a task AMSA requires. This is an alternative to AMSA retaining an expanded itinerary of dedicated assets.

Some of these operators are provided with specialised SAR equipment and training. These operators can then be asked to undertake a variety of SAR missions including visual and electronic search operations as well as the deployment of emergency life-saving equipment (eg. life rafts) depending on the operators’ capabilities.

Current opportunities

AMSA is currently seeking qualified aviation operators that can provide high standard SAR services. Applicants need to be aware that search and rescue operations can be highly demanding and that those services:

• must be undertaken to exact standards
• may require specialised equipment and crew skills and
• might be undertaken in remote locations under adverse conditions.

There are three broad types of opportunity-based SAR services being sought:

• Rescue capable helicopters
• Helicopters capable of performing search functions
• Fixed wing aircraft capable of performing search functions.

If you are interested in making an application, please review / complete the following documents and draft contract:

• Approach to Market - Provision of opportunity-based SAR services
• Draft opportunity search and rescue services agreement
• Annexure 1 – Organisational Details Form
• Annexure 2 – Aircraft Details Form
• Annexure 3 - Facility Details Form

More information

Please email the AMSA Procurement team at contracts-enquiries@amsa.gov.au for more information or if you have any questions.