Pentagon Says Air Force Followed The Rules In Making Changes

We may be finally nearing an end to the protracted battle over a lucrative US Air Force helicopter contract. A draft Pentagon audit indicates the service acted appropriately in changing four key bidding requirements in the combat search-and-rescue (CSAR-X) helicopter procurement bid.

Bloomberg reports the audit -- requested by the Senate Armed Services Committee earlier this year -- states the USAF followed protocol in making the changes, which ultimately resulted in the 2006 awarding of the CSAR-X bid to the twin-rotor Boeing HH-47. Competitors Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky promptly filed protests of that decision, and the contract has been in limbo ever since.

The nine-page audit reports states changes to the helicopter's cabin space and payload, fuel range and other mission-readiness criteria were "properly vetted" through the council "in accordance with acquisition guidelines."

The Pentagon adds the Air Force made some of those changes at the request of Sikorsky and Lockheed -- and that they were made "to address contractor requests for clarification and to ensure full and open competition." For example, those competitors asked that the Air Force Special Operations Command revise downward the target unrefueled range of operation, from 325 miles roundtrip to 275.

"Our review of the contractor-submitted documentation confirmed these concerns and the rationale for adjusting" the requirement, the audit states. "We found no indications that the changes will adversely affect special operations capabilities in the Global War on Terror."

The Air Force is reportedly on track to finally award the $15 billion CSAR-X helicopter contract next year. That decision was supposed to come sooner... but the Air Force announced a "minor delay" last month, to insure every "i" is dotted so the decision isn't protested yet again.

FMI: www.af.mil