JLTV Announcement Again Put on Hold by U.S. Army
By kris osborn
Published: 27 Oct 19:46 EDT (23:46 GMT) Print | Email
The U.S. Army has picked three industry teams to receive 27-month development contracts for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), but the service is again delaying the announcement in hopes of decreasing the chance of protest from the losing bidders.
"The contracting process requires the Army to give an explanation to those who do not win as to why specifically they did not win," said an Army officer familiar with the process, who said protests may yet come, given the large number of contractors who entered the competition.
On Oct. 24, the winners' names had gone for approval to Defense Secretary Bob Gates, and the announcement was planned for the afternoon. It was moved to Oct. 27, then pushed off again to an unspecified date.
Protests have slowed the Air Force's CSAR-X helicopter and tanker contracts.
The Army plans to buy an unspecified number in the thousands of JLTVs over years, seeking a blast-resistant vehicle that can go offroad and carry plenty of with on-board electronics, said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Scott West, who heads the Army's TACOM Life Cycle Management Command in Warren, Mich.
