Says Monopolistic Merger Limits Competition, Costs
Taxpayers
Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) Thursday urged the Air
Force against granting sole-source contracts for heavy satellite
launches to United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture between
Boeing and Lockheed Martin. Regulators are expected to rule on the
merger shortly and the companies are now jointly negotiating for
the third round of launches under the $32 billion Evolved
Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program, which will cover 23
missions lasting through 2011 and beyond. Despite the cost
overruns, schedule delays, and scandals that have plagued EELV,
there is no legal requirement for the Air Force to consider
additional bidders that may emerge before 2011.