WASHINGTON, April 18 (UPI) -- The Pentagon announced Monday the Air Force will proceed with a multi-billion effort to buy new refueling aircraft.
Congress and the Pentagon put the tanker program on hold in May 2004 when it was determined the Air Force had given the Boeing Co. a sweetheart deal: It would lease and then buy 100 refueling planes from Boeing for $23 billion, paying a premium for getting more aircraft more quickly than a traditional military procurement.
That deal was negotiated by an Air Force civilian acquisition official who at the time was also discussing her future employment with Boeing. Darleen A. Druyun and former Boeing chief financial officer Michael M. Sears both received jail sentences in the conflict-of-interest scandal that erupted.
Given the scandal -- which touched the highest level of the Air Force and compelled several top officials to resign -- the secretary of the Air Force said Monday the acquisition program would be traditional, and by the book.
"We must ensure that this program models a traditional competitive acquisition program and that every step proceeds in a deliberate and transparent fashion," said Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne said.
The analysis of alternatives just completed says both Boeing and Airbus offer commercial jets that can serve the Air Force's need to replace the KC-135 tanker.
The request for information from companies wishing to compete is expected to be issued by the end of April. A draft request for proposal is expected in fall 2006, with a final request for proposal to follow in January 2007. The award of the contract is expected in summer 2007.
