Northrop Grumman voiced concerns Tuesday that the Air Force may have given the Boeing Co. an edge in the tanker contest.
Los Angeles-based Northrop, which is teaming up with EADS for the aerial refueling tanker competition, says the Air Force disclosed pricing information last year to Boeing about its bid. Doing so “distorts” this new contest, which the Air Force launched on Friday.
“Access to comparable pricing information from Boeing has thus far been denied by the Pentagon,” said Paul K. Meyer, Northrop’s vice president, in a statement. “With predominant emphasis placed on price in this tanker re-competition and Northrop Grumman again proposing its KC-45 refueling tanker, such competitive pricing information takes on even greater importance. It is fundamentally unfair, and distorts any new competition, to provide such critical information to only one of the bidders.”
Boeing protested the Air Force’s decision to award the $35 billion contract to Northrop in 2008. During the protest, the Air Force disclosed some pricing information to Boeing. Government auditors found several flaws in the Air Force’s competition, leading the Pentagon to end its contract with Northrop.
The Air Force released its revised requirements for the tanker last Friday, kicking off the agency’s third attempt to replace its KC-135 tanker fleet.
On Tuesday, Boeing said that it hasn’t decided on its offer to the Air Force. The Chicago-based company could offer the Air Force a tanker based on either its 767 or 777 commercial planes, both built in Everett. Boeing also may offer the Air Force both tankers, said spokesman Bill Barksdale in an entry on the company’s tanker blog.
“One of the great benefits of having a range of options to offer in this competition is being able to ultimately present the Air Force with one proposal — or two — that best meet their requirements while providing the best value to American taxpayers,” Barksdale wrote.
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