CSAR-X decision to be made in February

[unhappycamper]

CSAR-X decision to be made in February
By Erik Holmes - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Oct 25, 2007 20:42:02 EDT

The Air Force will announce its choice for the new combat search and rescue helicopter in mid-February, the service’s top civilian official said Wednesday.

Speaking at a House Armed Services Committee hearing, Air Force Secretary Michael W. Wynne said the final amendment to the CSAR-X request for proposals will be released in mid-November. The bidders — Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky Aircraft — will be given 60 days to submit their proposals, he said, so proposals will be due in mid-January. The Air Force then will take 30 days to review the proposals and make a selection, he said.

Wynne said the Air Force released a draft of the RFP amendment Tuesday.

The Air Force in May selected Boeing’s CH-47 Chinook as the replacement for the HH-60 Pave Hawks but was forced to reopen the bidding process when the Government Accountability Office ruled in August that that Air Force changed its evaluation scheme without giving bidders enough time to change their proposals.

Air Force leaders have expressed frustration over the multiple protests that have delayed the helicopter, one of the service’s top five procurement priorities.

“We are attempting to comply with the GAO finding,” Wynne told lawmakers Wednesday. “We regret the delay because our war-fighters need the equipment.”


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2007/10/airforce_csar_071025/



uhc comment: The contract appears to be worth about $15,000,000,000.