they learned one company had an inside edge, Opposition Leader Mr. Frederick Wade charged yesterday.

Mr. Wade was reacting to news that of nine companies invited to bid on all or part of the air operations contract, only two submitted proposals by Friday's deadline.

With the US Navy pulling out, Bermuda must take over Airport operations next June 1. Government has said the contract could be worth $25 million to $50 million over five years.

Mr. Wade said he was "very concerned,'' but "not surprised'' that only two companies submitted proposals.

"I think the whole process was tainted when the Government permitted Serco to provide technical advice (on the contract specifications) and then be allowed to bid,'' he said.

Serco, a large United Kingdom company, this year purchased Thompson Hickling Aviation Inc. of Canada, who Government hired to help it write the specifications for the Airport contract.

"That certainly has chased away any possible people who were interested in bidding,'' Mr. Wade said. "They could see it was going to be an insider having the advantage. Why waste the time and money? "There certainly was an inside track given to Serco.'' Management and Technology Minister the Hon. Grant Gibbons yester day dismissed Mr. Wade's criticisms as "rubbish.'' Dr. Gibbons said the bidding was run "as openly and fairly as possible.'' To avoid any conflict, Airways Corporation of New Zealand, the US Navy, and the Federal Aviation Administration were all involved in writing the request for proposals, he said.

One of the companies that did not bid, Lockheed Air Terminal Inc. of the US, told Government yesterday that Serco's involvement had nothing to do with its decision, he said.

Dr. Gibbons said he learned yesterday that the other company that submitted a proposal, Allied Signal Technical Services Inc. of the United States, was in a partnership with two invited bidders in addition to Bermuda Aviation Services.

They were Barton ATC Inc. and AeroMet Inc., both of the US, he said.

Mr. Wade said he felt the United Bermuda Party Government would give "insiders'' the advantage on all opportunities related to the turnover of the American Bases.

"We just think that the people of Bermuda are being shortchanged by this selfish attitude of the UBP,'' he said.