Boeing

ST. LOUIS, March 06, 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today submitted a proposal to participate as a prime contractor in the projected $5.4 billion Future Flexible Acquisition and Sustainment Tool (F2AST) competition to support all U.S. Air Force-operated weapons systems, including Special Operations Forces systems.

Boeing's offering draws on the expertise of 10 Boeing divisions and 28 large and small suppliers. Under the terms of the Request for Proposal, small-business participation must constitute at least 13 percent of the contract's value.

The new contract will include development, modifications, depot maintenance, spare parts and repairs on dozens of Air Force platforms, support systems, subsystems and components. Programs covered by the contract include Special Operations Forces C-130s, B-52 sustainment and avionics systems. It combines the existing Flexible Acquisition and Sustainment Tool (FAST) and Integrated Weapons System Support Program (IWSSP). Boeing is the only company in the competition with both FAST and IWSSP contracts.

"Our team in Fort Walton Beach and elsewhere in The Boeing Company understands the unique requirements of Special Operations Forces," said Ken Hill, director of Boeing Special Operations Forces Programs in Fort Walton Beach, Fla.

The Air Force will select up to 10 prime contractors to compete for orders over the 10-year life of the F2AST contract. Only contractors selected in this competition will be eligible to compete for future orders. F2AST has a $5.4 billion ceiling, with $3.4 billion allocated to traditional FAST tasks and $2 billion allocated to Air Force Special Operations Command tasks.