Artur Davis Supports A Spilt Tanker Contract

Alabama Mobile Davis says he's convinced that a split contract is the best chance of "building a tanker that will create thousands of new jobs in Mobile."

by Jamie Burch

Published: Wed, April 22, 2009 - 4:08 pm CST

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye says he is considering a proposal to split the $40 billion tanker contract.

According to CongressDailyAM, Inoye says he would be open to the idea if its the fastest way to get the refueling tankers in the air.

Northrop Grumman and EADS won the contract to build 179 tankers for the Air Force last year. But the Government Accountability Office upheld a protest filed by Boeing and the Pentagon canceled the contract.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates hopes to restart competition this spring, but he has rejected the idea of a split contract. Gates says doing so would add $7 billion to the program's development costs over the next five years.

Alabama Congressman Artur Davis said Wednesday that he's convinced a spilt contract is the best way to go.

“While Northrop Grumman/EADS have made the best offer, and in my opinion, won the contract fairly, it is obvious that Washington politics has brought the tanker process to a halt," Davis said. "To get this process moving again, and to avoid another multi-year round of challenges and appeals, we need a solution now. I have become convinced that a competitive dual award contract clearly represents our best chance for ending the frustrating political impasse in Washington and building a tanker that will create thousands of new jobs in Mobile and, most importantly, equip our military with the next-generation aerial refueling tankers it needs and deserves.”

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mob1 Says:

Thu, Apr 23, 2009 at 1:04 pm

Well, lets just forget about a bidding proccess and letting the winner be victorious. NO not in a democratic administration we do not want to upset anyone. I can not believe that our own elected official is ok with giving away part of a contract that Mobile won. Each administration proves more and more how much of a joke our GOVERNMENT HAS BECOME! No wonder other countries laugh at us and push us around, we bring it on ourselves!

framkly Says:

Thu, Apr 23, 2009 at 11:07 am

A split deal concedes that Boeing is as good as Northrop Grumman. Why make these comments that give Boeing extra leverage. If there is a split deal, Northrop may agree to make the aircraft elsewhere.
What was Davis thinking and how did he become convinced on a dual deal?