Air Force COS Says Bidding Will Re-Open 'Quickly'

Air Force Chief of Gen. Staff Norton Schwartz said Wednesday that the service would move quickly to re-open the bidding for the LAS contract which was abruptly cancelled as of Friday.

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"There's no way to put a happy face on this," Schwartz said, speaking to a group of reporters Wednesday in Washington, D.C. He said that the cancellation of the $355 million contract for 20 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft due to problems with supporting documentation was an "embarrassment" to the procurement process, and that the Air Force would move "quickly" in re-opening the bidding.

Multiple media sources including Defense Media Network report that Schwartz said if the Air Force had botched thc contract, it would be a "profound disappointment." "I can assure that if it wasn't an innocent mistake, there will be hell to pay," he said.

The award to Embraer and Sierra Nevada Corporation was challenged by Hawker Beechcraft, which was precluded from submitting a bid in the process. HBC file a lawsuit to force the Air Force to explain why it was not allowed to bid. Schwartz did not say whether HBC would be allowed to place the AT-6 airplane in the running for the LAS contract in the new round of bids. Schartz said the bidding needed to be reopened expeditiously before the funds expire.

FMI: www.af.mil