The US Air Force (USAF) has lost a bid protest filed by Sierra Nevada Corp (SNC) over the service's intention to sole-source a potential USD980 million indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract to Sikorsky for HH-60W Jolly Green II combat search-and-rescue (CSAR) helicopter upgrades.
The USAF HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter on display at AFA Winter 2020 on 27 February 2020 in Orlando, Florida. A judge has ruled against the USAF in a bid protest over the service's intent to sole-source a USD980 million ID/IQ contract to Sikorsky for HH-60W upgrades. (Janes/Pat Host)
In a 14 July filing, US Court of Federal Claims Judge Matthew Solomson temporarily barred the USAF from awarding any delivery orders to Sikorsky under the contract contemplated in the justification and approval (J&A) that was approved on 19 January after either of two scenarios is satisfied.
One scenario is the USAF awards the orders that are necessary to begin the first three contemplated capability upgrades: a degraded visual environment sensor and system, a Global Positioning System anti-jam/anti-spoof capability, and a mobile user objective system. The other scenario is Sikorsky delivers to the USAF the complete technical data package (TDP) for the HH-60W in accordance with the terms of the production contract.
Solomson directed the USAF to compete any work to accomplish additional capability upgrades on the HH-60W that were not already under contract prior to either the first three contemplated capability upgrades being awarded or the complete TDP being delivered. This is unless an exception to competition under federal law applies and a separate J&A authorising a sole-source award is approved.
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