Kan. lawmakers dive into Air Force contract dispute

The lawmakers argued the Beechcraft bid was cheaper than
Embraer’s, and also emphasized that the bid would have preserved U.S. 1,400
jobs, knocking Embraer as a Brazilian company.

“As the nation is facing immense financial hurdles,
including a trillion-dollar cut to the Department of Defense over the next
decade, it
seems unwise to select a higher-priced supplier with a product of inferior
quality,” the lawmakers wrote.

“Furthermore, that supplier is based outside the United
States,” they added. “While the U.S. aviation manufacturing industry continues
to recover, now is the time to invest in U.S. jobs and manufacturing, and not
abroad.”

Embraer and Sierra Nevada rejected the claims that their
work wouldn’t create U.S. jobs, as Embraer will produce the planes in a new
facility in Jacksonville, Fla.

“The SNC award will support more than 1,400 American jobs,
reflecting both the large U.S. supplier base — more than 100 companies will
supply parts and services for the A-29 Super Tucano — and new jobs that will be
created by SNC and Embraer,” the companies said in a joint statement.

This is the second go-around in the fight between Beechcraft
and Embraer over the light air support contract, as Beechcraft sued to have the
initial contract award wiped out last year. The Air Force said it cancelled the
contract due to internal documentation problems.

The Air Force had the companies re-bid for the contract of
20 planes that are for the Afghan military. It awarded
the contract once again to Embraer and Sierra Nevada last month.

Beechcraft, previously named Hawker Beechcraft, filed a
protest with the Government Accountability Office (GAO), questioning the Air
Force decision when its bid was lower and the AT-6 plane received an “exceptional”
rating.

The lawmakers have asked Hagel to provide a “thorough, compelling
explanation” of the contract decision.