Madam Chairman, there are a whole range of factors to take into account in comparing one bid against another. When we are dealing with something as huge and complex as a helicopter contract, it is a challenge but it is extremely important to ensure we are comparing apples to apples and oranges to oranges and coming out at the end of the day with the wise use of taxpayer dollars.
Our procurement process ensures that the companies will be bid exactly what the military needs and therefore will allow the government to seek the lowest price from among compliant bidders. Assuming that all other factors are equal in comparing one bid against another bid, then obviously the conclusive factor would be one of price, but it is a very complicated thing.
It probably cannot at the end of the day be reduced to a single decision making factor. There are a variety of things that need to be taken into account, but broadly speaking, if everything else is equal, then price would be the determining factor.