More VIP Transport Maintenance – Still No Transport Protection
DYNCORP International LLC in Irving, TX received a $9.8 million estimated value modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, cost-reimbursable contract (N00019-01-C-0019) that exercises an option for aircraft maintenance and logistical life cycle support for ten Navy and Marine Corps UC-35 aircraft. The UC-35 fleet consists of Cessna Citation 560 Ultra V UC-35C and Citation Encore UC-35D executive jets, which are used as a VIP transports and for priority cargo duties.
DynCorp also maintains the related C-12 Huron VIP transport aircraft. Addressing these aircraft’s vulnerability to hostile missiles, as they fly VIPs around in war zones, doesn’t seem to be on the list yet; indeed, those who have spoken out on this issue have been punished.
Work on this maintenance contract will be performed at the Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar, CA (17%); Andrews Air Force Base, Andrews, MD (17%); MCAS Futenma, Japan (16%); Naval Air Station (NAS) New Orleans, LA (15%); MCAS Cherry Point, NC (15%); Wichita, KS (10%); and Bridgeport, W.V. (10%), and is expected to be completed in September 2006. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.
The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md. issued the contract. This facility chose not to respond to DID queries that asked for a response re: whether defensive systems had been installed in the VIP transports. Note that our query specifically noted that we were not requesting any details regarding those systems, simply confirmation that these publicized vulnerabilities had been addressed.
