Hatch, Conrad Comment on GAO Report About Air Force Tanker Decision

Press Release

HATCH, CONRAD COMMENT ON GAO REPORT ABOUT AIR FORCE TANKER DECISION

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) today announced it is sustaining The Boeing Company's protest of the Air Force's decision to award the KC-X aerial refueling tanker contract to Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation.

Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), a co-founder of the Senate Tanker Caucus, said: "As a co-chairman of the Senate Tanker Caucus, it has always been my primary goal to ensure that our service members receive, on an expedited basis, the best tanker through an efficient and transparent procurement process. I continue to have confidence in the Air Force and its procurement officials. However, the Government Accountability Office has sustained Boeing's objection. I respect the GAO's decision.

"Despite today's determination," Hatch continued, "the fact remains that our service members continue to fly Eisenhower-era aerial refueling tankers. The ability of our nation to continue to project worldwide aerial power rests with our tanker fleet. Therefore, I hope that the procurement process can be restarted on an accelerated basis so that our airmen and women receive the best tanker."

Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND), also co-chairman of the Senate Tanker Caucus said, "I deeply respect the unbiased expertise that the GAO brings to judging contract protests. Unfortunately, today's GAO ruling will mean that our Airmen will have to wait months or years longer to receive new aerial refueling tankers, and the KC-135 tanker is already over 50 years old." Conrad said, "I urge the Air Force and all parties to pull out all the stops in quickly reviewing this competition and if necessary conducting a new one on an expedited basis. We have no time to lose."

The GAO report states that today's decision does not reflect a view on the merits of either firm's respective aircraft. The GAO report recommends that the Air Force reopen discussions with Boeing and Northrop Grumman, obtain and re-evaluate revised proposals, and make a new source selection consistent with GAO recommendations.

Further information can be found at www.gao.gov.

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