Presidential Aircraft Recapitalization

The Boeing Co., Seattle, Washington, has been awarded a $3,021,047 modification to previously awarded contract FA8625-16-C-6599 for Presidential Aircraft Recapitalization Program Phase 2 Pre-Milestone B activities. Phase 2 Pre-Milestone B activities were awarded Jul. 15, 2016 under contract modification number FA8625-16-C-6599 P00003. These additional activities will most notably focus on the increasing key supplier expertise in support of requirement analysis for the Engine Integrated Drive Generator. Boeing was granted an Early Effective Date of Dec. 9, 2016 for this effort and work began on that date. This modification is another step in a deliberate process to control program risk and life cycle costs. This contract is being awarded on a sole-source basis. As the designer and manufacturer of the commercial 747-8 aircraft, The Boeing Company has the unique capability to perform necessary tasks to provide a Presidential aircraft. Boeing is also uniquely capable of satisfying all Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification requirements with the highest confidence to meet the established program operational need date. This unique capability is based on Boeing's exclusively private development of the aircraft and sole ownership of the 747-8 aircraft stress, loads, and aero design data. Boeing declined to sell or otherwise provide the United States Government or other contractors the license rights needed to conduct an adequate competition or to provide additional engineering services in lieu of data rights. The nature of the effort needed to meet PAR Program requirements is such that a non-Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) attempting the extensive modifications required for a Boeing 747-8 aircraft to meet PAR Program requirements would face significant challenges in securing required FAA Supplemental Type Certificates (STC) without availability of OEM technical data and technical support. Without the OEM's technical data and technical support, a non-OEM would be responsible for generating and recreating basic aircraft technical design data. The FAA would require a significant amount of proof in terms of data development, compliance methodology, and reverse engineering type design data needed to substantiate and certify the modifications required for the PAR Program. Non-OEM reverse engineering type design data introduces significant cost and schedule risk into this program, which would jeopardize having an initial operational capability by 2024.