Tanker Bidding Will Be Reopened: AF Secretary

**Matt Molnar** · 06-23-2008, 09:56 AM

WSJ:

Air Force Tanker Bidding to Be Reopened, Says Departing Chief
By YOCHI J. DREAZEN and AUGUST COLE
June 21, 2008; Page A3

WASHINGTON -- The Air Force is virtually certain to reopen its bidding on a mammoth tanker contract in the wake of a scathing government audit, which means that the service will be unlikely to meet a 2013 deadline for fielding the new planes, according to the Air Force's recently ousted civilian chief.

Departing Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne said he was surprised and disappointed by a Government Accountability Office report this week that found a "number of significant errors" in the Air Force's decision to award the $40 billion tanker contract to Northrop Grumman Corp. [Full Article]

**cancidas** · 06-23-2008, 10:56 AM

good! that's the only way to make sure that it's done right, to do it from the beginning. i wonder if there is going to be any oversight this time to make sure that everybody plays fair from the beginning to the end.

i wonder if the construction in GA is going to continue or if it'll be on hold for now.

**Matt Molnar** · 06-23-2008, 11:04 AM

It's pretty interesting that he said this...it's too bad the article doesn't get into any of the dirt. He's on his way out the door after getting fired by Gates a couple weeks ago, mainly because of the USAF's nuke mishaps. The tanker debacle is just another black eye for them.

**Nick** · 06-23-2008, 04:02 PM

What's with the USAF these days, can't pick a CSAR Helo, can't pick a KC replacement. This type of stuff will make us a dept. of the Army in no time!

**moose135** · 06-23-2008, 04:33 PM

Reading the GAO release, it sounds like the USAF really screwed the pooch on this one. Starting with revising the original RFP when EADS said they wouldn't compete, through inappropriate and unequal conversations they had with the two parties, and apparently changing the method they used to make the final selection. Were they so worried about making it look "fair" following the earlier tanker leasing fiasco that they leaned too far towards EADS?

It will be difficult to have a new "fair" competition moving forward. Given the significant differences between the two aircraft in question, either one can cry foul depending on the requirements in the assumed-new RFP.

I would hate to think these people are just incompetent, but that may be the best case scenario. It's possible that we haven't seen the last people go to jail before the USAF has new tankers.