USAF Tanker war gets murkier with claims and counterclaims
On April 2, 2008, Northrop Grumman via a release claimed that the Boeing Company has narrowed down the grounds on which it has filed a protest concerning the Department of the Air Force’s award of a contract to Northrop Grumman for new refueling tanker aircraft.
The release says that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) had denied motions filed by Northrop Grumman Corporation and the United States Air Force calling for a partial dismissal of Boeing Corporation’s protest of the Air Force decision in the KC-45 Tanker acquisition process. The denials came after a supplemental filing by Boeing Corporation that streamlined its original protest and eliminated many of the elements that were central to the Air Force and Northrop Grumman motions.
“Boeing’s decision to abandon the public relations rhetoric contained in its original protest filings is in keeping with our motion,” said Randy Belote, Northrop Grumman vice president of corporate and international communications. “We are encouraged that the company has streamlined its
approach. We remain convinced that the Air Force process that led to Northrop Grumman’s selection was fair, open and transparent, and we look forward to assisting the Air Force defend its selection decision before the GAO.”
Boeing denies it. Boeing’s version say’s that the GAO has denied both the Air Force’s and Northrop Grumman’s motions to dismiss Boeing’s claims. This decision is consistent with Boeing’s view that full consideration of all appeal grounds is warranted. Boeing view’s today’s decision by the GAO as a significant development in its appeal of the tanker decision.
Reacting to the Northrop Grumman release, Boeing say’s that it has no idea of the basis of the Northrop Grumman statement. It also mentions that it continues to press every ground in its original appeal. It has neither abandoned nor narrowed any ground. In fact, their supplemental filings have added additional grounds to the original filing based on the information they received from the Air Force since filing of the protest on March 11. Boeing say’s that any assertion to the contrary is a blantant attempt to misrepresent the facts.
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