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CSAR-X contractors can rewrite bids, GAO says

The future of the Air Force’s next combat search-and-rescue helicopter remains unclear after a congressional watchdog told the service Aug. 30 that it must allow contractors to rewrite their bids for the aircraft, known as CSAR-X, destined to replace the fleet of HH-60 Pave Hawks.

Ten months ago, the Air Force awarded Boeing Co. a $15 billion contract for the HH-47, a search-and-rescue version of the CH-47 Chinook. That contract for about 145 helicopters was put on hold when the Government Accountability Office found that the Air Force erred when calculating long-term maintenance costs of the HH-47 and the competing aircraft, Lockheed Martin’s US101 and Sikorsky’s S-92.

The Air Force agreed to take a second look at maintenance costs, but the service would not let firms rewrite the bids submitted in September 2006. Lockheed and Sikorsky filed a second set of protests with the GAO, which said Aug. 30 that the firms should be allowed to revise their bids because the Air Force has revised how it will calculate maintenance costs.

The time needed to rewrite and review updated bids makes it unlikely the Air Force will sign a contract for the CSAR-X by Nov. 9, the anniversary of the original declaration that Boeing had won.

Sue Payton, the Air Force’s top acquisition official, said the service is reviewing the GAO’s decision and deciding what to do next. “We are committed to providing an urgently needed capability, but we are equally dedicated to properly conducting our evaluations of offeror’s proposals,” Payton said.

Lockheed spokesman Mike Drake said the firm is committed to an “expedited review” of the CSAR-X competitors.

Separate from the bid protests, there has been an ongoing debate of whether the HH-47 is the right choice at all. Critics of the twin-rotor aircraft say it is too big and too loud to fly missions behind enemy lines. Proponents of the aircraft say the HH-47 uses proven navigation technology and will be delivered on schedule.

A problem now is that no one knows what the schedule is.

Related reading

Press release from the Government Accountability Office