After a protracted and controversial procurement process, the Maryland State Police signed a deal last month to purchase six new AgustaWestland AW139s.
The $71 million agreement includes options for six more and appears to contain substantial discounting. The Maryland Police said they paid $1.6 million less per helicopter than the New Jersey State Police paid one year ago. Maryland is paying $11.7 million per helicopter plus an inflation escalator.
AgustaWestland was the sole bidder for the contract. Other OEMs either declined to bid or objected to the process, claiming the requirements were drawn up specifically for the AW139. American Eurocopter filed a formal protest in 2009, later denied by the state transportation department, claiming that the bid specifications “preordained” the results. Deliveries are to commence in 18 months and the helicopters will be produced at AW’s Philadelphia plant.