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Second Round Of Bidding Opens For Tanker

By Steve Alexander Reporter

The Defense Department outlines what its looking for. Second Round Of Bidding Opens For Tanker

Published: Wed, August 06, 2008 - 8:23 pm Last Updated: Fri, August 15, 2008 - 11:19 am

Steve Alexander

The bell for round two rang Wednesday in the fight over Air Force tankers.
And this time, the U.S. Department of Defense is handling everything.
Director of Defense Procurement and Acquisitions Policy Shay Assad held a news conference to answer questions about the second round of bidding for the Air Force tanker contract.
He emphasized several times that Northrop-Grumman and Boeing should have no trouble understanding what the department wants in a tanker.
Assad said, "We've tried to be meticulous in insuring that the (companies) have a very clear and unambiguous understanding of the relative order of importance of our requirements."
Then, the Defense Department official took up the issue of value.
Assad said, "We will recognize value over threshold as it regards to fuel offload."
Is this good news for Mobile?
In reacting to the news conference, Northrop-Grumman spokesman Randy Belote told News Five that Northrop Grumman's KC-45 tanker is more effective and efficient in aerial refueling capability than Boeing's.
He said the KC-45 might cost more to fly from one point to another.
But Belote said since it's a larger plane, it can fly more fuel more efficiently in the long run.
Mobile Mayor Sam Jones said this round of judging should focus on the planes themselves instead of the bidding process.
Mayor Jones said, "Actually, our competitor Boeing has not built an aircraft yet. (It) has not built a tanker yet. So, they have a paper offering, we have an actual offering."
Department of Defense officials said they should finish evaluating both proposals and award the contract right around New Year's Eve.

Gov. Bob Riley
“It is my understanding the content and schedule laid out by the Pentagon not only addresses all the issues raised by the GAO but also provides the foundation for the selection of the best tanker. That is the only thing Alabama has ever insisted on. I hope Congress will not interfere with the aggressive schedule the Pentagon has established because our men and women in uniform deserve a solution to this ongoing controversy.”

Sen. Richard Shelby
“While I am still reviewing the draft Request for Proposal, it is my hope that it will address GAO's eight recommendations in an equitable manner,” said Shelby. “Moreover, I am gratified that the plan appears to bring this needed capability into the hands of our warfighters as quickly as possible. I remain committed to ensuring that this is a fair, open and transparent process that serves our men and women in uniform in the best way possible.”

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carl Says:

Mon, Aug 11, 2008 at 5:43 am

Good morning MeAmerican ! What are you doing up and surfing the web so early ? It just started raining here so i guess we’ll have a dreary monday !

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MeAmerican Says:

Mon, Aug 11, 2008 at 5:23 am

Not sure petal could find their butt with a fist full of fishhooks. Well unless it was on a billboard or nasty ole chicken place reader board. Mobile is a washed up little city that’s overrun w/ corruption, crime, and sorry public schools of indoctrination.

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rosepetal Says:

Sun, Aug 10, 2008 at 6:57 pm

michaelc, sounds more like to me all 160,000 of you sit around and watch cartoons. at the taxpayer expense of course.

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michaelc Says:

Sun, Aug 10, 2008 at 4:53 pm

Yeah, that’s all we do all day, all 160,000 of us, we just sit around and think of ways to screw the American taxpayer.

You know, you remind me of a famous quote buy one of this country’s greatest characters, now how did that go again? Oh yes.

“What a Maroon!”
Bugs Bunny

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rosepetal Says:

Sun, Aug 10, 2008 at 4:33 pm

michaelc, no no you were being honest. boeing offers nothing free of charge as the american taxpayer well knows.

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michaelc Says:

Sun, Aug 10, 2008 at 4:26 pm

Um, rosepetal? That’s called sarcasm! It’s a service I offer free of charge.

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rosepetal Says:

Sun, Aug 10, 2008 at 4:19 pm

michaelc,>>>>>>>>>>You will have to excuse me now as it is late and as a Boeing employee I have a get my rest so I can continue ‘raping and pillaging’ the American taxpayer.

michaelc, finally an honest comment about boeing.

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carl Says:

Sun, Aug 10, 2008 at 5:42 am

At this point I would say 60 to 40 in favor of NG/EADS retaining the contract, barring any under the table money deals from either side. To go totally against the original awarding of the contract would be saying It’s OK in future contracts to expect all companies bidding that lost, to appeal the awarding of the contract to anyone. Mistakes will be and have always been made in the wording of the requests for bids. If the awarding of the contract is reversed then I would expect and demand the same steps be applied to all future contracts and do what ever necessary to see that come about. There’s more riding on this than just two companies wanting to make money.

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rosepetal Says:

Sat, Aug 09, 2008 at 9:31 pm

michaelc, sorry boeing can not buy their way into this tanker deal. i really believe airbus will get the contract.

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michaelc Says:

Sat, Aug 09, 2008 at 9:27 pm

You stating ‘Boeing lost’ doesn’t change the FACT that the reason Boeing lost is because the Air Force had the heads up their you know what! And the proof for that statement is the FACT that the DoD will now decide, not the Air Force!

You will have to excuse me now as it is late and as a Boeing employee I have a get my rest so I can continue ‘raping and pillaging’ the American taxpayer.

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