US Navy Resumes BAMS Program After GAO Denies Lockheed Protest

The U.S. Navy announced today that it will resume execution of the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Unmanned Aircraft System (BAMS UAS) program following a decision by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to deny a contract award protest. On April 22, 2008 the Department of the Navy awarded a $1.16 billion system development and demonstration contract to Northrop Grumman Corp. which was subsequently protested by Lockheed Martin. The GAO issued its decision to deny the protest on Aug. 8. “The decision underscores that the source selection competition for the system development and demonstration contract followed a rigorous process that adhered to stringent Federal Acquisition Regulation and Naval Air System Command (NAVAIR) processes and documentation requirements. It confirms that we have identified Northrop’s RQ-4N Global Hawk as the best-value platform for the BAMS UAS,” said Capt. Bob Dishman, program manager of NAVAIR’s Persistent Maritime Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program (PMA-262) which oversees the BAMS UAS efforts. “The BAMS UAS team is now at work to fulfill the maritime warfighters’ requirements for continuous battle-space awareness. We are in the process of addressing program impacts as a result of the protest to ensure the BAMS UAS is delivered as expeditiously as possible to the Fleet,” Dishman said. The BAMS UAS is to be an integral part of the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Force. As an adjunct to the P-8A, the BAMS UAS will provide persistent maritime and littoral intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to join forces and Fleet commanders worldwide. This capability will enhance maritime domain awareness and improve force protection capabilities for the Fleet and the nation.