The US Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) will not commit to a contract award date for the effort to install new engines on its fleet of Boeing B-52H Stratofortress heavy bombers, said General Timothy Ray, AFGSC chief, on 25 February, during the Air Force Association’s (AFA’s) annual Aerospace Warfare Symposium.
Although the effort, formally known as the Commercial Engine Replacement Program (CERP), was on time, it was too early to say exactly when a contract would be awarded, said Gen Ray.
General Timothy Ray, the US Air Force Global Strike Command chief, said on 25 February that it was too early to say when the service would issue a contract for new B-52H engines. This programme, the Commercial Engine Replacement Program (CERP), could be worth USD11 billion. (US Air Force)
The CERP request for proposal (RFP), released in May 2020, had an anticipated contract award date of June 2021. A programme schedule posted on the beta.sam.gov federal contracting website, dated 4 June 2020, predicted a contract award starting in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2021, or between July and September.
The US Air Force (USAF) plans to acquire 608 new commercial regional/business jet propulsion systems, plus spares and associated support equipment and data. Initial engine quantities include 16–64 engines to integrate onto prototype aircraft, plus additional spares. CERP will replace the Pratt & Whitney TF33-P-3/103 turbofan engines used on the B-52H.
The remaining engines will be acquired over the course of multiple ordering periods for a total contemplated period of performance of up to 17 years. This period of performance includes one six-year basic period, one five-year option, and six one-year options.
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