The Air Force has formally released Amendment 5 to its request for proposals on the combat search and rescue helicopter replacement program. It released a draft version in October to provide an opportunity for “face-to-face meetings” to ensure “mutual understanding” on the controversial CSAR-X program, according to an Air Force statement. The three contenders—Boeing, which won the original award last year, Lockheed Martin, and Sikorsky—have until mid-January to submit revised RFPs. This third go-round the door is wide open; the Air Force is allowing competitors to update any portion of their proposals. And, the service has added Army, Navy, and DOD reps to its source selection team. Service officials now don’t expect to make a new contract award before summer.
Aircraft readiness will suffer if Congress does not approve some $1.5 billion worth of spare parts the Air Force requested in its annual Unfunded Priorities List, sent to Capitol Hill last week, Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin said.