As expected, the amended U.S. Air Force request for proposals (RFP) for its combat, search and rescue (CSAR-X) helicopter released May 29 was narrow in scope, focusing only on certain lifecycle costs issues identified by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) when it sustained the protests of losing bidders Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky against Boeing's win.

But Lockheed and Sikorsky have both said that kind of narrow focus would not be in the spirit of the GAO ruling. They now have to decide whether to answer the revised bid, protest again, file a lawsuit in federal court or walk away from the competition for a possible contract worth between $10 billion and $15 billion for more than 140 helicopters.

Further protests or a lawsuit could mean lethal delays to the program, especially as it concerns federal funding. Gen. Michael Moseley, Air Force chief of staff, has already said he would not look kindly on further legal roadblocks.

In releasing the revised RFP, the Air Force included a statement saying the "amendment is the culmination of an open and transparent process which included the release of a draft, face to face meetings with the original offerors and the exchange of questions and comments relating to the content of the RFP amendment."

The Air Force also said, "Based on Government Accountability Office recommendations, the amended RFP clarifies the Air Force's evaluation of Operations and Support costs and provides the original offerors an opportunity to quantify and substantiate potential maintenance manpower efficiencies based on the reliability and maintainability characteristics of their proposed aircraft."

The service released a draft version of the amended RFP earlier this month (DAILY, May 15). The final amended RFP can be found by searching the Federal Business Opportunities Web site at www.fbo.gov.