The costly procedures of the Department of Forests in the lease of flying firefighting vehicles cost the island, if we take into account the report of the Audit Service, that in four of the five cases examined, the award of the tenders reached €62.5 million from an estimated value of €48.8 million.

In other words, as recorded in the Report for the years 2022-2024, the amount of these offers increased by 27.5%, directly referring to a waste of public money.

The Auditor General himself, in his introductory note, observes that these serious weaknesses and omissions relate to the years exactly after 2021, when the Republic of Cyprus faced the most devastating fire in its history (Arakapas – 3 July 2021) which caused the death of 4 people and destroyed about 55 square kilometers of land, including 28 houses and extensive crops, with material damages of more than €15 million and with incalculable damages for the environment.

The Report also indicates that, in addition to the above, due to the significant delay in the management of the tenders, the crucial milestone of the summer season is partially or totally lost, i.e. when the aerial firefighting equipment is more than necessary to protect the island and the natural environment.

In the same Report, it is also stated that "as a result of the tactics followed by the Department of Forests (on the issue of the preparation of the documents of the tenders in question), over time the aircraft available for lease (in the market) are further reduced and the tenders are not awarded in time or at all". This, according to the Report, leaves the Republic of Cyprus, for a large part of the summer season, without a sufficient number of firefighting aircraft, and in the end the state is obliged to accept, through the reduced requirements of the tender documents, to lease aircraft and personnel of possibly reduced quality and experience respectively in relation to its initial requirements.

At the same time, with the decrease in the supply of firefighting aircraft, the cost of leasing is also increasing.

Among the examples cited are the purchase of one aircraft and pilot services for the period 2025 – 2027, with the right to renew 2028-2029 and two planes and pilot and maintenance services for 2025 – 2027, with the right to renew 2028-2029. The estimated value was €17,200,000+VAT. As reported, initially the estimated cost was €13.590,000 and in the course of time it increased to €17.2 million.

Through the Report, it is indicated that while the estimated cost increased significantly, the duration of the services was reduced from 5 to 3 years with the remaining parameters remaining unchanged. "That is," the Report notes, "the estimated cost increased by 26.5%, even though the period of purchase of firefighting and maintenance services decreased by 40%."

One of the issues that the Department of Forestry stumbles upon in the handling of tenders concerns safety certificates (EASA or ICAO certificate) and sometimes one was accepted, sometimes both, leading to adventures or delays in the timely provision of firefighting equipment, while in some cases the tenders were cancelled, leading to further delays.

It is worth noting that for the lease of two planes for firefighting with an estimated cost of €19.7 million, while 11 economic operators received the documents, in the end no one submitted a bid. When the tender was re-announced, 18 entities were interested, but only one tender was submitted.

In the Report, it is recorded that in one offer an air attendant was not accepted, while in another there was no objection for the same person.

Also, in one bid the award prices were increased by 38% and in another by 27% from the cost estimate.

Regarding the lease of helicopters in the period 2024-2025 with an estimated value of €18.4 million. All bids were rejected because they did not provide a guarantee of participation.

Regarding the purchase of 42 fire trucks (including maintenance and training), with an estimated value of €11,075,000+VAT, it is reported that they were awarded at a price 10% above the initial estimate.

The 25 fire trucks were special-purpose and all-terrain, with the capacity to transport 2,000 liters of water (Section A of the tender with an estimated cost of €6,850,000 + VAT).

The 17 fire trucks had the capacity to transport 6,000 liters of water (Section B of the tender with an estimated cost of €4,225,000 + VAT).

The vehicles were co-financed by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) and no market research was carried out but the authorities relied on experience of previous tenders. 4 tenders were submitted (1 tender for Section A and 3 tenders for Section B) of which 2 were rejected.

The tender was awarded Section A (€7,568,750 + VAT) and Section B (€4,674,409 + VAT).

The tender for Section B was re-announced with €4,950,000 + VAT) and the award was made for an amount of €6,143,885 (24% higher than the estimated value) to the only valid bidder.

The Report also records the following:

The Department, as a Contracting Authority, failed to manage with the required degree of adequacy the armouring of the country with flying and ground means, an issue of very critical importance for public safety and the protection of the natural wealth of the Republic of Cyprus (CC).

Poor planning, insufficient market research, inconsistency of evaluation criteria and repeated calls for tenders that either failed to attract a sufficient number of tenders or resulted in rejections due to exclusive and restrictive technical requirements, notably in terms of accepting only certifications by EASA, excluding corresponding certifications by ICAO, are of serious concern.