Decision Matter of: Air Tractor, Inc.
Abstract
The challenged solicitation represents the most recent purchase of light attack aircraft by the Air Force to address the agencys need for weapon systems to meet counter violent extremist operations (c-VEO) requirements. Contracting Officers Statement(COS) at 2. In the prior two phases of the program (LAE I and LAE II), the agency used its other transaction authority under 10 U.S.C. 2371b, Authority of the Department of Defense to Carry-Out Certain Prototype Projects, to conduct market research and experimentation with the aim of developing a light attack capability.1 See id. at 3.For LAE I, the Air Forces Office of Strategic Development Planning and Experimentation issued an invitation to vendors, in May of 2017, to participate in the agencys market research into the industrys capability, capacity, and interest in providing cost-effective light attack aircraft platforms for the Air Forces future force structure. Id. at 2. The Air Force used the results of this process to develop an acquisition strategy for the next phase of the experimentation, LAE II. Id. at 3. In the summer of 2018, the Air Force chose two vendors aircraft, Textrons AT-6C and Sierra Nevada Corporations A-29, to participate in the LAE II effort. Id. LAE II was cut short, however, when, on June 22, the A-29 participating in the experiment crashed. Id. at 4.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 10, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1166943
Entities
People
- Thomas H. Armstrong
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office