Air Force receives draft audit for CSAR-X helicopter program

By My-Ly Nguyen
Staff Writer
pressconnects.com

November 19, 2008

OWEGO –– The U.S. Air Force has received an initial evaluation from the
Pentagon about the development of its bidding requirements in the combat
search and rescue helicopter procurement process.

The Defense Department's Inspector General's Office issued a draft audit
of the Air Force's procedures, Air Force spokeswoman Lt. Col. Karen A.
Platt said. A final report is expected later this year.

The Air Force is in the process of providing comments back to the IG,
Platt said.

Both Platt and the IG's office declined to elaborate on the details of
the audit. The IG's office said it doesn't comment on draft reports.

Platt said, "Since a final report has not been released by the IG, it
would not be appropriate for the Air Force to release specific
information contained in the still draft document."

The Air Force will "seriously consider" making any changes recommended
in the final report, she said.

The Boeing Co. originally won the $15 billion CSAR-X contract in
November 2006. Lockheed Martin Systems Integration –– Owego and Sikorsky
Aircraft protested the award.

Platt said the IG's audit is not directly associated with the contract
award.

"The recently-announced...delay is therefore not related to the IG
audit," she said.

Last month, the Air Force announced the addition of a seventh amendment
to the long list of changes on the contract to further clarify how it
will make its decision.

The Air Force is expected to award the contract to replace 141 aging
helicopters sometime next year, according to published reports.

cough...KC-X...cough.