Consortium Says Single Winner Could Cost Thousands Of Aerospace
Jobs
The Aerospace Alliance, a
four-state partnership dedicated to building the next aerospace
corridor in Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi, said
Monday the Air Force should split the contract to replace the Air
Force's aging KC-135 tankers between Boeing and a consortium led by
EADS Airbus and Northrop Grumman. The latter group contends that
unless the terms of the RFP are changed, they will not even bid on
the project.
While Northrop won the initial bid in 2008, the decision was
challenged by Boeing, and the process was sent back to square one.
Now, Randy Belote, Northrop spokesman, tells the Panama City News
Herald that Northrop and EADS say the process is unfair and favors
Boeing.
“The Aerospace Alliance supports a split that would
benefit both Boeing and Northrop Grumman and provide the most
expeditious means of replacing the aging tanker,” Al
Wenstrand, Florida’s Great Northwest president and regional
representative on the alliance, wrote in an e-mail. “In
addition, it would create up to 100,000 jobs throughout all 50
states, including thousands of jobs in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana
and Mississippi.”
A330 Tanker
Once a new RFP is released by the Air Force, which is expected
by the end of February, Northrop will decide whether to bid, Belote
said. If there are not substantial changes from the draft RFP sent
out in January, Northrop won’t bid, he said. “We
don’t really think we can win it this time,” Belote
said.
Neither company wants to split the contract. Boeing spokesman
William Barksdale said the defense department does not seem to
support splitting the contract, and the company believes it can
win. “We expect it to be a winner takes all,” Barksdale
said. “We are eager to be in the competition and win the
contract.”
The Aerospace Alliance contends that a split means the Air Force
could replace tankers more quickly. One company can finish about 15
tankers per year, which means replacing an entire fleet could take
decades.
In is e-mail, Wenstrand said splitting the contract means
Northwest Florida will have at least some presence to secure
branding the aerospace corridor. Northwest Florida would be able to
compete for suppliers and supporting businesses. If the contract
goes solely to Boeing, he said, Fort Walton Beach might benefit but
Northwest Florida will lose a major opportunity.
B767 Tanker
“Should Congress opt for a dual buy contract with both
Boeing and Northrop Grumman building the aircraft, the Northrop
Grumman operation in Mobile will be constructed and the Boeing
operation in Fort Walton Beach will benefit,” Wenstrand said.
“For Northwest Florida, this situation is a win-win rather
than an all or nothing approach to supporting either Boeing or
Northrop Grumman.”
FMI: www.aerospacealliance.com