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Tanker Bidding To Be Reopened
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Northrop proposed turning the Airbus A330 into a military tanker. Boeing had proposed retrofitting its commercially designed 767 into a tanker.
The two companies said yesterday that they supported Gates's decisions. Northrop said the tanker deal "should be put on a path toward quick closure." Boeing said it welcomed the decision to reopen the competition but was "concerned that a renewed request for proposals may include changes that significantly alter the selection criteria as set forth in the original solicitation." Defense analysts said the company could consider its larger plane, a 777, as a tanker option, depending on what the Air Force says it wants this time.
Congressional leaders are watching the process closely. Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.) said he spoke with Young late yesterday and was alarmed to learn that the Pentagon said it would give extra credit for carrying more fuel. The GAO said the Air Force unfairly gave Northrop extra credit for that before.
"We're very unhappy with this current development," Dicks said. Boeing has manufacturing facilities in Washington state.
Young said last night that "the requirements make clear that the objective is to provide additional fuel" than the existing KC-135 model. "We need to ensure in the RFP [request for proposal] that the language is clear on this matter. We will not grant extra credit for exceeding objective requirements because we should not pay extra taxpayer money for bells and whistles."
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash) retracted a statement praising Gates's decision and issued a new one calling it a "biased process and tainted contract."
"The Pentagon is now being absolutely transparent about their Airbus bias," she said. "They are changing the rules at the very end of the game to protect their chosen winner."
