The Defense Department on Aug. 24 let more than a quarter-billion-dollars in helicopter-related contracts, mostly for rotorcraft services in support of the ongoing war in Afghanistan.
Columbia Helicopters, based in Aurora, Oregon, was awarded an option year modification by U.S. Transportation Command in the amount of $243 million to a previous service contract to provide rotary wing airlift support to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), specifically in Afghanistan. The modification raises the total cumulative face value of the contract to $468.7 million and covers transport of both passengers and cargo.
Another services contract for $54.6 million, also for airlift services in Afghanistan went to CHI Aviation, based in Howell, Michigan. The modification lifts the total cumulative face value of the contract to $115 million to provide rotary wing airlift support for passengers and cargo in Afghanistan.
U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) awarded Berry Aviation, based in San Marcos, Texas, a $30 million increase to an existing contract for passenger, cargo, combined passenger and cargo, aeromedical evacuation and short takeoff and landing air transport services within CENTCOM. The addition brings Berry’s total contract value to just under $88 million.
The Defense Logistics Agency awarded Bell Helicopter [TXT] a contract for $17.6 million worth of rotor blades for the H-1 Huey. That contract is a one-time foreign military sales purchase for Taiwan with no option periods and was a sole-source acquisition. Work will be performed at Bell’s manufacturing facility in Texas and should run through September 2021, according to a government contracting announcement.