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Air Force sets release date for tanker RFP

After months of delays, the Air Force intends to release the final request for proposals on the $35 billion KC-X tanker competition “not earlier than” Feb. 23, according to an Air Force pre-solicitation notice released Monday.

The final RFP was originally due Nov. 30. However, on Dec. 1 Northrop President and CEO Wes Bush sent a letter to Pentagon acquisition chief Ashton Carter threatening to drop out of the competition unless changes were made to the draft RFP. Bush complained that the early, cost-focused version of the solicitation heavily favored rival Boeing’s smaller, cheaper 767-based offering over Northrop’s Airbus A330-based bid.

Both competitors have also complained about the fixed-price nature of the contract, which calls for tankers to be delivered over several decades.

Soon after Bush sent his letter, the Pentagon announced that it was delaying the release of the final RFP until January so it could take the time to address complaints from KC-X competitors Boeing and Northrop Grumman-EADS. Over the last several months, high-ranking Pentagon and Air Force officials have insisted that they will make no major changes to the RFP. Just last week, Defense Secretary Robert Gates confirmed that the Pentagon will move ahead with the competition with or without Northrop’s participation.