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Tanker contract protested
A formal protest is filed with the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). As required by law, GAO will issue a decision within 100 days of the filing date, which means the decision should be issued no later than June 19, 2008. The GAO may schedule hearings during the course of the protest in order to gain additional information. After the GAO has gathered all the facts, it will consider the issues raised as well as the facts presented and issue a decision either denying the protest, dismissing the protest without reviewing the matter, or sustaining the protest. It is rare for the GAO to sustain a protest. In FY2007, out of 1,411 protests - only 91, or 6% of the protests, were sustained. By all accounts, this competition was the most rigorous, fair and transparent acquisition process in the history of the U.S. Department of Defense, and the Air Force made what it determined to be the best choice for the warfighter. The suggestion that this competition - a competition that was the second attempt by the Air Force to procure a tanker after the first deal with Boeing ultimately imploded as a result of illegal dealings - was anything but fair and transparent is laughable. Boeing is also charging that it was somehow disadvantaged in this competition - that they did not understand what the Air Force wanted. This charge strains credibility. Boeing has built every tanker the Air Force has ever flown. They were the heavy favorite. While I am disappointed Boeing has chosen to protest this contract, we must let the process run its course. Let us not forget, these aircraft are 47 years old, and they are getting older by the day. Our American airmen, soldiers, sailors, and Marines need these tankers today. The time is now - we must provide the best, most capable aircraft to our men and women in uniform. They deserve no less.
Jo Bonner, R-Mobile, represents the First Congressional District of Alabama which includes a portion of Clarke County. Contact Congressman Bonner's office at 1-800-288-8721 or via his Web site: bonner.house.gov.
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