For more than two years prior to the Navy issuing an RFP (Request for Proposal) in 1964, Convair engineers had been evaluating designs for use in the limited war and counter-insurgency arenas. These designs were evaluated by many military and civilian representatives of the armed forces and Department of Defense. Shortly after the Navy issued a procurement invitation on October 28,1963, the design was formalized. Once approved, it only took 40 weeks from go-ahead until first flight on November 29, 1964. Even though a prototype was flying shortly after the requirement was published, North American won the contract with a paper airplane.