11/17/2007 - WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- Air Force officials released Amendment 5 to the Request for Proposals Nov. 15 for CSAR-X, the combat search and rescue replacement vehicle.
Officials have conducted face-to-face meetings with all CSAR-X offerors after the release of Draft RFP Amendment 5. These face-to-face meetings with CSAR-X offerors were held to foster open communications and ensure a mutual understanding of Draft RFP Amendment 5.
The offerors have been given 53 days to respond to RFP Amendment 5. This amendment allows the offerors an opportunity to update any portion of their proposals. The performance-based requirements have not changed, and Air Force officials will continue to evaluate the offerors' updated proposals fairly and transparently.
The goal of the Air Force remains constant: to procure 141 CSAR-X aircraft to replace the current fleet of 101 aging and performance-limited HH-60Gs. CSAR-X remains the number two acquisition priority for the Air Force.
Experienced Air Force combat search and rescue personnel, both aircrew and maintainers from the using command, will continue to provide their expertise to the source selection team. Army and Navy specialists are being added to the team in order to leverage their unique rotorcraft expertise. In addition, a representative from the Office of the Secretary of Defense also has been added to the team to provide additional management experience.
The development of the CSAR-X requirements has been led by Air Force pilots, aircrew and support personnel who have flown demanding CSAR missions, maintained the HH-60 Pave Hawk and supported CSAR operations in austere locations around the world.
