Tidbits from Senate committee on AF tanker ‘fiasco’

Today, the Senate Committee on Armed Servicesis hearing testimony on the Air Force’s disclosure of data in its $35 billion tanker contest.

The Air Force already has said it plans to go ahead with its competition, despite releasing competing bid info to EADS and the Boeing Co. That means Air Force could announce as early as February which contractor will replace 179 of its KC-135 tankers.

The Air Force sent Major General Wendy M. Masiello, who works in the office for the Assistant Secretary of acquisition. Steven D. Shirley, executive director for Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center, also testified at the hearing.

Here are a few highlights:

15 seconds: The EADS employee who opened the info on Boeing’s bid, accidentally provided by the Air Force, said he only viewed it for 15 seconds before realizing it was not EADS’ info. He was alone in the room and contacted another employee about how to proceed.

3 minutes: Forensic data shows the page of Boeing data was open on the EADS’ computer for three minutes.

10 lines of data: About 10 lines of data was visible. The lines summarized how the Air Force concluded Boeing’s tanker would perform in certain refueling conditions.

Leveled playing field: The Air Force says it leveled the playing field by providing Boeing with similar information about EADS’ tanker.

No protest: No protest has been filed so far by either Boeing or EADS.

Sen. Maria Cantwell: Cantwell asked committee chair Sen. Carl Levin for the hearing but did not question the witnesses during the hearing.

Sen. John McCain: McCain called the Air Force mix-up of bid data a “fiasco.” McCain voiced skepticism about holding the hearing and about Levin’s decision to make public some of the redacted documents involved in the tanker bid.

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