Mobile Site

WKRG.com » News Stream » Mobilesmakeover »

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.”

Video
Poll

Enlarge Video

Download Video

Video RSS

Embed:

WKRG.com Related Resources

News –› Alabama

News –› Mobile

More –› Mobile's Makeover Section

Northrop KC-30 Compared To Boeing KC-767

Full Gao Boeing Redacted Decision Report

Discuss this in the forum

Those who Recommended this also liked:

Recent Tanker Decision Forum Topics

Recommend

Email to a Friend

Printer Friendly

rosepetal Says:

Sat, Aug 09, 2008 at 9:13 pm

michaelc, blah blah, all you want. it does not change the fact. Boeing Lost.

• Report Abuse

michaelc Says:

Sat, Aug 09, 2008 at 9:11 pm

Blah, blah, blah, more garbage from an uninformed, closed minded EADS puppet, Again I ask, what qualifies you to state that EADS offer was superior? Were YOU the one who screwed up the selection process so bad that we have to do this again? That WOULD explain a great deal!

• Report Abuse

rosepetal Says:

Sat, Aug 09, 2008 at 9:03 pm

michaelc , please spare me the insults, you can come on here with all your spin and it does not change the fact, the airforce chose airbus. now if you want to argue try telling the airforce they do not know what they are doing. airbus offered the best tanker. you can not spin it any other way. sorry it will hurt your pocketbook, but the bid was about a tanker, not job or money creation. boeing knew what to do this was not their first bid ever.

• Report Abuse

michaelc Says:

Sat, Aug 09, 2008 at 8:57 pm

Rosepetal,

As usual, nothing intelligent to say. You’re like a broken record only able to repeat the same garbage over, and over, and over again. If making lame t-shirts with some po-dunk chicken stores sorry attempt to jab Boeing on them helps you sleep at night, go for it. I personally would sleep better knowing that the United States was being defended by the world’s most advanced tanker IN SERVICE! The Boeing KC-767.

• Report Abuse

rosepetal Says:

Sat, Aug 09, 2008 at 7:33 pm

michaelc , lol yes i would know a real tanker if it flew over my head, but unfortunately you would not know one if it flew up your oh well you know. i guess the airforce does not really know what they want either, they need boeing to guide them with the help of their pocket politicians. would that be a boeing aerospace industry you are talking about? have you gotten your boeing steelers shirt yet? i am going to have some made with a foosackley’s finger pointing the way for them.

• Report Abuse

michaelc Says:

Sat, Aug 09, 2008 at 5:47 am

I would also like to know what makes you qualified to make the unilateral statement that the EADS/NG tanker is superior? Because the Air Force says so? Ha! Their credibility is pretty much in the toilet these days!! What with flying nukes across the country and steering contracts to Generals buddies and all.

Do you even work in the aerospace industry?

Would you even recognize an Air Force tanker if it flew over your head?

I, at least, am involved with the KC-767 tanker project on a daily basis. I see KC-767 Tankers, you know them, the ones that look like folded paper airplanes, (rolling eyes), as well as KC-135’s 365 days of the year! I’ve actually meet representatives from Japan who LOVE their world’s most advanced, tankers!

So please, share with us your unique qualifications.

• Report Abuse

michaelc Says:

Sat, Aug 09, 2008 at 5:33 am

Rosepetal,

How does my post prove your ‘bizzar-o world’ point? Only in ‘bizzar-o world’ is the world run by the states of Kansas and Washington! Only in ‘bizzar-o world’ does Boeing have these mystical magical powers to control anything and everything! Only in ‘bizzar-o world’ does anything you say make one lick of sense!

You always come back with ‘the Air Force chose Airbus’. Well, in case you didn’t know, the Air Force screwed it up SO BAD the first time, they now don’t get to choose at ALL! The DoD is choosing!! So, my friend, you will forgive me when I don’t place the same blind trust in the choices the Air Forces makes as you do.

• Report Abuse

rosepetal Says:

Sat, Aug 09, 2008 at 3:06 am

michaelc , yes the airforce did chose airbus because it was the superior plane. now to punish the airforce, boeing is holding the airforce tanker hostage. your post just proves my point. boeing knows how to play the game. we should replace the statue of liberty with a statue of tiahrt holding a boeing frankentanker in his hand. show the world what really goes on in the united states.

• Report Abuse

michaelc Says:

Fri, Aug 08, 2008 at 8:43 pm

Maybe I should start running my own ads in DC. They would go something like this.

Narrator: The KC-767 was the least expensive proposal.
EADS/NG: But ours is BIGGER.
Narrator: The KC-767 is more survivable.
EADS/NG: But ours is BIGGER.
Narrator: The KC-767 is more fuel efficient.
EADS/NG: But ours is BIGGER.
Narrator: The KC-767 had three times more positive discriminators.
EADS/NG: But ours is BIGGER.
Narrator: The KC-767 can operate form more bases.
EADS/NG: But ours is BIGGER.
Narrator: The KC-767 came the closet to meeting the requirements as written.
EADS/NG: But ours is BIGGER.

Sometimes, BIGGER is not BETTER.

• Report Abuse

michaelc Says:

Fri, Aug 08, 2008 at 8:32 pm

Rosepetal,

True, the Air Force chose the EADS bid, as a result of a comedy of errors and mistakes.
True, Beoing lost, see the reason why above. FALSE, Beoing is not trying steal the tanker deal. That’s only true in your little ‘bizzar-o world’.
I see you do not denie the facts I listed, and they ARE the facts, perhaps there is hope for you yet!

• Report Abuse