The Government Accountability Office has upheld a portion of a protest of an Air Force contract to Boeing [BA] Aerospace Operations for depot maintenance work on KC-135 tanker aircraft.
The protest included allegations of bias by Boeing’s competitor–Pemco Aeroplex Inc.–against Charles Riechers, the lead for source selection on the contract who was found dead in his home in October in an apparent suicide.
Riechers was the first person to fill the Air Force’s number two acquisition post since Darleen Druyun held the position in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Druyun served a prison term after she admitted in federal court to illegally favoring Boeing in competitions in exchange for jobs for herself and family members (Defense Daily, Oct. 16).
Pemco’s allegations of bias regarding Riechers have not been upheld by GAO. The government watchdog agency said in its Dec. 27 statement that ongoing law enforcement and government investigations into Reichers’ death might shed light on Pemco’s allegations.
“Our decision does not express any opinion regarding Pemco’s bias allegations,” GAO said.
The office did sustain an allegation by Pemco regarding the analysis of cost and price considerations on the contract.
The service did not provide an analysis of changes made by Boeing in its final proposal to the service regarding the service’s evaluation of cost and price considerations, GAO said.
“We have recommended that the Air Force perform and document the required realism and risk analysis,” GAO wrote in a Dec. 27 press release about its decision.
The service has 60 days to conduct and document the analysis and respond to GAO, the statement said.
Boeing is awaiting the results of the Air Force report.
“We remain confident that once the analysis is documented, Boeing will again be determined to have offered the best value to the Air Force for the KC-135 [Programmed Depot Maintenance] program,” wrote Brian Ames, director of communications for Boeing Support Systems, in a statement yesterday.