A $15bn contract for US Air Force rescue helicopters won by Boeing has now came under the threat of as a US government watchdog body has asked to reopen the bid. The Government Accountability Office has suggested Air Force in a nonbinding decision that the Air Force was ‘inconsistent’ in its requirements when it awarded a $15 billion contract in November to Boeing Co. to build the helicopters.
On the other hand, Air Force reportedly has not taken any decision whether it will reopen the bidding process for a $15 billion contract to build search and rescue helicopters. The GAO has taken the decision following complaints made by Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky alleging that Air Force evaluation of their bids was not in line with the original tender.
The Air Force awarded the contract last year in November to Chicago-based Boeing to upgrade 141 Sikorsky Aircraft Pace Hawk helicopters that are used to recover downed pilots. However, the selection of Boeing’s CH-47 Chinook helicopter over Lockheed’s US 101 had shocked many military experts due to the bigger size of Boeing’s aircraft.
Keeping a close vigil on the development Lockheed has argued that the Air Force applied different criterion to examine the various bids and provided competitors with varying instructions on what capabilities the military was seeking in a new helicopter. Lockheed has further alleged that additional criteria given to competitors included performing at high altitudes, domestic relief efforts and increased troop-carrying capacity.
Lockheed in its reaction over the development has said that the company is waiting to see how the Air Force will apply the GAO’s recommendations. On the other hand, Boeing has reportedly stated that the company will review the GAO decision to assess possible next steps.
Moreover, the recommendation is not compulsory for the Air Force but it requires the Air Force to respond within 60 days.
