IQALUIT, NUNAVUT -- A $1,262,814 competitive contract has been awarded to Unaalik Aviation Inc., of Iqaluit, Nunavut, to provide charter flights in support of the Polar Continental Shelf Project (PCSP). Awarded on behalf of Natural Resources Canada, this contract will maintain nine jobs and will be completed in December 2004 with the option to extend it for two additional one-year periods. The announcement was made today by Nancy Karetak-Lindell, MP for Nunavut, on behalf of the Honourable Stephen Owen, Minister of Public Works and Government Services. "The open and competitive bid process has been put in place to give companies right across Canada, regardless of their size, an equal opportunity to do business with the Government of Canada," said Ms. Karetak-Lindell. "Unaalik Aviation won the open bid to provide charter flights for researchers, thus contributing to the 40-year tradition of the Polar Continental Shelf Project of providing reliable and cost-effective service to hundreds of scientists from around the globe. The studies these Canadian and international research teams conduct are critical to the understanding of the economic potential of the Canadian Arctic."The company will provide air services originating from Resolute Bay, which is one of two bases maintained by Natural Resources Canada for the PCSP. The PCSP supports a wide variety of Arctic scientific research, ranging from archaeology, climatology, glaciology, space science and wildlife studies.Funding for this contract was provided for in the February 2003 Federal Budget.For information on contracting opportunities with the Government of Canada, visit www.merx.com, Canada's official, public sector electronic tendering service. -30-
