Bid process flawed

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Jun 23, 2008

A new governmental report about the Air Force's outrageous decision to reject Boeing's bid for a multibillion-dollar contract for air refueling tankers should set spirits soaring here in Kansas.

The report provided ample ammunition to those who believed Boeing was treated unfairly in the selection process - a group that includes some pretty vocal members from here in the Sunflower State. Issued by the Governmental Accountability Office, the document was described as a stunning condemnation of the Air Force.

"Our view of the record led us to conclude that the Air Force has made a number of significant errors that could have affected the outcome of what was a close competition between Boeing and Northrop Grumman," said an attorney for the the GAO, the investigative agency for Congress.

Bad news for the Air Force brass, but good news for Boeing and possibly Kansas.

Here's hoping the report prompts another look at Boeing's proposal.

It certainly should. Among the report's more troubling conclusions, government investigators said military officials improperly ruled that Boeing's aircraft would be more expensive to operate over its life than the aircraft manufactured by Northrop and EADS, the parent of French manufacturer Airbus.

Also, the GAO said the Air Force acted unfairly in giving the Northrop-EADS plane an edge because of its size. The aircraft is larger than Boeing's and is able to carry more fuel and cargo.

To their credit, Kansas lawmakers quickly called attention to the report.

"We have said repeatedly that the Air Force's decision was wrong and skewed to the wrong company with the wrong plane," said Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan. "The Air Force has no choice but to rebid the tanker contract."

We couldn't agree more, and we hope the outcome this time is different.

When it was announced earlier this year that the Air Force had passed over Boeing, the news came as a punch to the gut for Kansas. Boeing officials said the contract would bring 3,800 new jobs to the state, and the deal could be worth as much as $100 billion with the acquisition of a full fleet of 600 tankers.

But beyond the economic impact in our backyard, the decision raised questions about whether it was appropriate for the U.S. to award defense contracts to manufacturers with foreign ties.

Yes, we realize we're living in an increasingly global economy. And we know that allowing overseas companies to compete for contracts was designed to spur competition and keep bids down.

But we're still uncomfortable with the thought of the nation's military equipment being manufactured by foreign builders.

That's a big issue, one that may need some time to sort out.

For now, though, here's a pat on the back to all Kansas elected leaders who stood up for Boeing and cried foul over the contract.

Thanks to them, Boeing just might get another chance to compete for the contract - and, this time, on a level playing field.

Mayor Bill Bunten__368-3895; e-mail: bbunten@topeka.org

Lana Kennedy, District 1__235-6616; e-mail: lkennedy@topeka.org

John Alcala, District 2__233-7110; e-mail: jalcala@topeka.org

Sylvia Ortiz, District 3__357-0717; e-mail: sortiz@topeka.org

Jack Woelfel, District 4__215-3323; e-mail: jwoelfel@topeka.org

Bill Haynes, District 5__215-3103; e-mail: wgh@wghaynes.com

Deborah Swank, District 6__233-1037; e-mail: djswank@cox.net

Brett M. Blackburn, District 7__273-9867; e-mail: bblackburn@topeka.org

Jeff Preisner, District 8__271-1959; e-mail: jpreisner@topeka.org

Richard Harmon, District 9__271-6962; e-mail: rharmon@topeka.org

City Manager Norton Bonaparte Jr.__368-3725; e-mail: nbonaparte@topeka.org

Mayor Bill Bunten__368-3895; e-mail: bbunten@topeka.org

Lana Kennedy, District 1__235-6616; e-mail: lkennedy@topeka.org

John Alcala, District 2__233-7110; e-mail: jalcala@topeka.org

Sylvia Ortiz, District 3__357-0717; e-mail: sortiz@topeka.org

Jack Woelfel, District 4__215-3323; e-mail: jwoelfel@topeka.org

Bill Haynes, District 5__215-3103; e-mail: wgh@wghaynes.com

Deborah Swank, District 6__233-1037; e-mail: djswank@cox.net

Brett M. Blackburn, District 7__273-9867; e-mail: bblackburn@topeka.org

Jeff Preisner, District 8__271-1959; e-mail: jpreisner@topeka.org

Richard Harmon, District 9__271-6962; e-mail: rharmon@topeka.org

City Manager Norton Bonaparte Jr.__368-3725; e-mail: nbonaparte@topeka.org

City council office__368-3710; 215 S.E. 7th, Topeka, Kan., 66603