# C_2007206EN.01001501.xml

| 5.9.2007 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 206/15 |
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5.9.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 206/15

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FI-Helsinki: operation of scheduled air services

Invitation to tender

(2007/C 206/06)

1.   Introduction: Pursuant to Article 4(l)(a) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92 of 23.7.1992 on access for Community air carriers to intra-Community air routes, the Finnish Government (Ministry of Transport and Communications) has decided to impose public service obligations for scheduled air services on the Helsinki-Varkaus and/or Helsinki-Savonlinna routes.

The public service obligation has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union (C 205 of 4.9.2007).

If, by 1.9.2007, no air carrier has begun to operate nor announced its intention to begin to operate scheduled services on the Helsinki-Varkaus and/or Helsinki-Savonlinna routes in accordance with the public service obligations without requiring financial compensation, the Ministry of Transport and Communications will restrict access to these routes to a single carrier for no more than 3 years. The right to operate on those routes will, in that case, be granted on the basis of an invitation to tender under Article 4(1)(d) of the abovementioned Regulation. The Ministry of Transport and Communications (the client) decided to launch the invitation to tender on 14.6.2007.

2.   Subject of invitation to tender: The operation of scheduled air services on the Helsinki-Varkaus and Helsinki-Savonlinna routes from 1.12.2007 to 30.9.2010, except for the periods 4.7-2.8.2008, 3.7-1.8.2009 and 2.7-31.7.2010.

3.   Participation in the tendering procedure: Bids may be submitted by any air carrier holding a valid operating licence within the meaning of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2407/92 of 23.7.1992 on licensing of air carriers.

4.   Tendering procedure: The tendering procedure will be conducted in accordance with Article 4(1)(d) to (i) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92.

The client may reject all offers if the price is too high or if circumstances or the requirements for organising the service change significantly, in such a way as to make it unfeasible or impossible to implement the planned service in the way described in the invitation to tender.

Until a contract is signed, the client will retain the right to defer the start date of the planned service. If the start date is deferred, the end date will also be deferred correspondingly.

5.   Tender documents: A full set of tender documents, comprising an invitation to tender, the tender conditions, the contract, a description of the public service obligation and the tender forms, may be obtained from:

Liikenne- ja viestintäministeriö, Kirjaamo, PL (PO Box) 31, -00023 Valtioneuvosto, Helsinki.

They can also be obtained by sending a request by e-mail to the following address: kirjaamo@mintc.fi or by fax to number +358 9 160 28619.

6.   Financial compensation: Bids must clearly specify, in euro, the amount of compensation required for the service in question. The compensation required should be based on an estimate of actual costs and revenue, taking account of the minimum requirements imposed by the public service obligation. The compensation may cover only actual services and costs incurred at Helsinki-Vantaa, Varkaus and Savonlinna airports in connection with the operation of these routes alone. The compensation will not include costs incurred on other routes or at other airports.

All compensation and costs must be specified in euro.

7.   Ticket prices: The tender will specify ticket prices and the conditions for their validity as well as the various types of ticket in the price system. Prices must be in keeping with the public service obligation imposed on this route.

8.   Selection criteria: Selection will be made from the bids that meet the requirements set out in the invitation to tender and the tender documents. Selection will take into consideration the elements mentioned in Article 4(l)(f) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92.

9.   Period of validity of the contract: The contract will apply from the date on which it is concluded to 30.9.2010. Services are to start on 1.12.2007 and end on 30.9.2010.

If the client has to defer the start date for the services, the end date of the services and of the contract will also be deferred correspondingly.

10.   Amendment or termination of the contract: The contract may be amended only if the amendments will not lead to a situation in which the requirements under the public service obligation will no longer be met on this route. Amendments to the contract must be made in writing. The parties will have the right to terminate the contract if there is reason to do so under the terms of the contract.

11.   Penalties in the event of failure to comply with the contract: The air carrier will be responsible for meeting the obligations set out in the contract. If the carrier fails to meet the obligations or meets them inadequately, the client may reduce the compensation payable.

12.   Deadline for submission of bids: Bids must be submitted not later than 31 days after the publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Official Journal of the European Union

13.   Submission of bids: Bids must reach the Ministry of Transport and Communications by 16:15 on the date specified in point 12, at the latest. The applicant must mark on the envelope: ‘Tarjous: Varkauden ja/tai Savonlinnan lentoliikenne, 734/79/2007’ (= Offer: Varkaus and/or Savonlinna air services, reference 734/79/2007). Bids may be sent by post to the address given in point 5 or in person to the Registrar's Office at the Ministry of Transport and Communications (Liikenne- ja Viestintäministeriö, Kirjaamo, Eteläesplanadi 16, Helsinki). The Registrar's Office is open Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 16:15.

The price of the bid must be specified in a separate sealed envelope, bearing the name of the tenderer.

Bids will be valid until 31.12.2007.

14.   Validity of invitation to tender: In accordance with Article 4(1)(d) of Regulation (EEC) No 2408/92, the Ministry of Transport and Communications has the right to suspend the tendering procedure and/or reject all bids if an air carrier from an EU Member State notifies Finland's Civil Aviation Administration before 1.9.2007 of its wish to begin the operation of scheduled services on the routes in question as from 1.12.2007 in accordance with the public service obligation without sole rights and without receiving financial compensation.

A tender may be selected only if the state budget has allocated sufficient funds to the project in question and if the federation of municipalities of the Savonlinna district and the city of Varkaus have undertaken to finance it.

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