babyice2197 - 21 March 2008 06:44 PM

... I think it was underhanded that the Air Force asked Boeing to make some changes with their bid which in turn caused it to go up. I have noticed some commenting on the high bid which is why I address that. I also think it was underhanded that they AF stated that, yes they wanted to replace one plane and turned around and chose a replacement for something else. ....

I thought the government put out requirements and the aircraft that met those requirements at the lowest cost won? I keep reading that they like the Airbus because it was bigger. If the Air Force was asking for a bigger plane then Boeing should have bid the 777. You are making it sound like the Air Force put out one set of requirements and then changed them later or was giving Airbus credit for providing something above and beyond what was needed.

I am simply saying what was reported by the news here.Has anyone seen the bid proposals at all? I'm not sure what is reported there about all of this but our stations have been reporting hardly anything but this forever it seems. Frankly I am tired of hearing about it. What was reported was that when Boeing first put in the bid there was certain things the AF wanted changed. Accordingly Boeing made the changes, but the said changes forced Boeing to up the bid price. We all know the result. We have not heard any retractions so far so all anyone can do is think on it and come up with their own conclusions. As for Boeing biding the bigger plane, they were told By the AF that they (AF) were looking to downsize the tanker but with some similarities as the current tanker. The AF then decided they wanted a bigger one. It raises questions but as I said before, it doesn't matter what any of us think really.

babyice2197 - 21 March 2008 08:10 PM

I am simply saying what was reported by the news here.Has anyone seen the bid proposals at all? I'm not sure what is reported there about all of this but our stations have been reporting hardly anything but this forever it seems. Frankly I am tired of hearing about it. What was reported was that when Boeing first put in the bid there was certain things the AF wanted changed. Accordingly Boeing made the changes, but the said changes forced Boeing to up the bid price. We all know the result. We have not heard any retractions so far so all anyone can do is think on it and come up with their own conclusions. As for Boing biding the bigger plane, they were told By the AF that they (AF) were looking to downsize the tanker but with some similarities as the current tanker. The AF then decided they wanted a bigger one. It raises questions but as I said before, it doesn't matter what any of us think really.

Is there any way to see a copy of the RFP? After all, if the Air Force didn't award the contract based on what they asked for, then Boeing has a legitmate gripe. I'd hate to see another Air Force Scandal resulting in us loosing this contract and tens of thousand of us going back on unemployment.

i really have no idea if they have released it or not, though I seriously doubt it. They didn't even debrief Boeing until I believe a week to week and a half after the decision was announced.