Sessions’ amendment seeks to ensures fairness in Air Force tanker competition

Amid lingering concerns that the Air Force may be biased in its selection of a new mid-air refueling tanker, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) introduced a resolution to the defense authorization bill on Tuesday that seeks to discourage any actions limiting an open and fair competition.

Sessions first introduced the Sense of the Senate amendment on the procurement of the tanker as part of the Senate Armed Service’s panel markup of the 2008 defense authorization bill in May. While the committee accepted the non-binding resolution, it was left out of the bill due to a technical oversight, Sessions said.

{mosads}“We have two bidders [and] it’s important for both bidders to know that they have a fair chance,” Sessions said.

Boeing is competing against a team of Northrop Grumman and EADS North America. Both competitors have ratcheted up their campaigns to marshal congressional and grassroots support for their bids. Boeing is competing with the 767 aircraft while the Northrop-EADS team is offering a larger Airbus 330.

Sessions is a strong EADS supporter. EADS North America, a subsidiary of the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company conglomerate. EADS has amassed strong support in Alabama where the company has promised to build a plant to assemble the tanker should the Air Force select the Northrop Grumman-EADS team. EADS has committed to bringing 1,000 new jobs to the Mobile area.

In his amendment, Sessions congratulated the Air Force for conducting an open competition for the so-called KC-X program. The multi-billion program is the Air Force’s No. 1 priority.

The Air Force should have the ability to choose the best possible joint aerial refueling capability at the most reasonable price, Sessions said in the text of his amendment.  His non-binding resolution also seeks to “discourage actions that would limit the ability of either teams seeking the contract for KC-X from competing.”

Sessions emphasized that the selection process for the tanker should be based on merit.

Without opening the contract to competition, the Air Force several years ago chose Boeing under a $20 billion lease program for 100 planes. But the deal evaporated after months of criticism about its high costs and Boeing’s move to hire the Air Force official who worked on the program.

The tanker lease landed two Boeing officials in jail and prompted the resignation of Air Force Secretary James Roche.