Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support (NAVSUP WSS) recently awarded the first Performance Based Logistics contract in support of the H-1 helicopter platform. The five-year, firm fixed-price contract, valued at just over $815 million, was awarded to Bell Textron Inc., based in Fort Worth, Texas. The PBL contract, based on Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 15 (Commercial Item), provides supply support for the UH-1Y, also known as the Super Huey, and the AH-1Z Viper. It will cover 35 individual items including tail rotor blades, gearboxes, and yokes. This contract is dual sourced with Fleet Readiness Center-East slated to perform repairs.
The H-1 PBL contract will include Supply Response Time metrics that will provide time-definite delivery schedules for both high- and low-priority documents that are far superior to schedules under transactional support. With the award of this PBL, Bell and FRC-E will fill backorders in a more timely fashion and keep the H-1 platform mission ready. One of the ways Bell and FRC-E will measure performance of the H-1 PBL is through material availability. The increased replenishment of stock positions will lead to a faster fill rate when the fleet orders material through requisitions. Bell achieving better maintenance practices on repair and overhauls will enable the helicopters to fly longer between repair times.
The Bell UH-1Y Venom (also called Super Huey) is a twin-engined, medium-sized utility helicopter, built by Bell Helicopter under the H-1 upgrade program of the United States Marine Corps. One of the latest members of the numerous Huey family, the UH-1Y is also called “Yankee”, based on the NATO phonetic alphabet pronunciation of its variant letter. The UH-1Y was to have been remanufactured from UH-1Ns, but in 2005, it was approved for the aircraft to be built as new. After entering service in 2008, the UH-1Y replaced the USMC’s aging fleet of UH-1N Twin Huey light utility helicopters, first introduced in the early 1970s and currently in full-rate production, with deliveries to the Marines to be completed in late 2018.
The Bell AH-1Z Viper is an American twin-engine attack helicopter, based on the AH-1W SuperCobra, that was developed for the United States Marine Corps as part of the H-1 upgrade program. The AH-1Z features a four-blade, bearingless, composite main rotor system, uprated transmission, and a new target sighting system. The AH-1Z, one of the latest members of the prolific Bell Huey family, is also called “Zulu Cobra”, based on the military phonetic alphabet pronunciation of its variant letter. Its two redesigned wing stubs are longer, with each adding a wingtip station for AIM-9 Sidewinder 2.75-inch (70 mm) Hydra 70 rocket pods, or AGM-114 Hellfire quad missile launchers. The AN/APG-78 Longbow fire control radar can also be mounted on a wingtip station.
