The largest procurement
contract in the history of the U.S has finally been awarded - and the winner is
the U.S!
The Pentagon has just announced that the $35 billion program to build 179 new refueling tankers, will be awarded to the Boeing Company. This decision has been in the works for ten years, since 2001 when Congress and the Air Force first proposed the tanker replacement program.
This win would not have been possible without the determination and leadership of some wonderful people. There is plenty of thanks to deliver, but special mention is necessary for Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, Representatives Jay Inslee and Norm Dicks, the IAM leadership of International President Tom Buffenbarger, GVP Richard Michalski, GVP Gary Allen, Legislative and Political Director Matt McKinnon, and District 751 under the direction of Tom Wroblewski and his political dynamo Larry Brown.
The fight to win this contract has resembled a tennis match - going back and forth between U.S. based Boeing (the sole supplier of aerial refueling tankers to the U.S. Air Force since 1948) and a consortium of companies led by France's Airbus.
"In the end, the decision to boiled down to protecting U.S. technology, paid for by U.S. citizens, being put into use by U.S. workers, to support the U.S. military" said Gary Allen. "The workers that have shared their expertise for decades, the engineers and designers, the machinists and assemblers, everyone who has shared in the development of skills and practices that allow this amazing product to become a reality - all of them were rewarded today. It was a good decision, the only decision that made sense. Workers will be able to provide this quality product, and care for their families - for decades."
The contract was originally awarded to Boeing, but challenged by a group of Senators - led by John McCain. They argued that the contract did not receive enough bidders, and forced it to be rebid. A couple of years later, the contract was awarded to Airbus - and challenged because the DoD accepted a plane that didn't meet the requirements of the contract. The Airbus plane would not fit in the hangars, would not land on the runways that were required, had worse fuel consumption, and shorter range that was requested. Once again, the contract was pulled back and re-released for bid.
In the meantime, the World Trade Organization found that Airbus was receiving illegal subsidies from France - allowing it to reduce its bid, as their profit margin was being guaranteed by their government. Several years of debates ensued, and finally the most sensible decision was reached.
"If the U.S. is going to sink up to $100 Billion into an economy, it ought to be ours!" said Kevin Cummings, Grand Lodge Representative assigned to the Pacific Northwest. The initial award of $35 Billion may be augmented by additional orders in the future, as well as orders for spare parts and maintenance of the air tankers.
“The importance of this decision cannot be overstated,” said Buffenbarger. “Our legacy as providers of the best-built military aircraft in the world was on the line, challenged by a foreign competitor who hoped to establish a high-tech beachhead in this country that could have permanently altered our ability to provide for our own defense.”
Yes, today was a good day. Hard work by a lot of people went into this decision, from elected political leaders, to champions of Labor, and ultimately the decades of skill and sweat provided by the anonymous thousands who developed the expertise to make the dream of a new air tanker possible. Thanks to all of them - and congratulation to the Pentagon, they definitely got it right this time.
The Pentagon has just announced that the $35 billion program to build 179 new refueling tankers, will be awarded to the Boeing Company. This decision has been in the works for ten years, since 2001 when Congress and the Air Force first proposed the tanker replacement program.
This win would not have been possible without the determination and leadership of some wonderful people. There is plenty of thanks to deliver, but special mention is necessary for Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, Representatives Jay Inslee and Norm Dicks, the IAM leadership of International President Tom Buffenbarger, GVP Richard Michalski, GVP Gary Allen, Legislative and Political Director Matt McKinnon, and District 751 under the direction of Tom Wroblewski and his political dynamo Larry Brown.
The fight to win this contract has resembled a tennis match - going back and forth between U.S. based Boeing (the sole supplier of aerial refueling tankers to the U.S. Air Force since 1948) and a consortium of companies led by France's Airbus.
"In the end, the decision to boiled down to protecting U.S. technology, paid for by U.S. citizens, being put into use by U.S. workers, to support the U.S. military" said Gary Allen. "The workers that have shared their expertise for decades, the engineers and designers, the machinists and assemblers, everyone who has shared in the development of skills and practices that allow this amazing product to become a reality - all of them were rewarded today. It was a good decision, the only decision that made sense. Workers will be able to provide this quality product, and care for their families - for decades."
The contract was originally awarded to Boeing, but challenged by a group of Senators - led by John McCain. They argued that the contract did not receive enough bidders, and forced it to be rebid. A couple of years later, the contract was awarded to Airbus - and challenged because the DoD accepted a plane that didn't meet the requirements of the contract. The Airbus plane would not fit in the hangars, would not land on the runways that were required, had worse fuel consumption, and shorter range that was requested. Once again, the contract was pulled back and re-released for bid.
In the meantime, the World Trade Organization found that Airbus was receiving illegal subsidies from France - allowing it to reduce its bid, as their profit margin was being guaranteed by their government. Several years of debates ensued, and finally the most sensible decision was reached.
"If the U.S. is going to sink up to $100 Billion into an economy, it ought to be ours!" said Kevin Cummings, Grand Lodge Representative assigned to the Pacific Northwest. The initial award of $35 Billion may be augmented by additional orders in the future, as well as orders for spare parts and maintenance of the air tankers.
“The importance of this decision cannot be overstated,” said Buffenbarger. “Our legacy as providers of the best-built military aircraft in the world was on the line, challenged by a foreign competitor who hoped to establish a high-tech beachhead in this country that could have permanently altered our ability to provide for our own defense.”
Yes, today was a good day. Hard work by a lot of people went into this decision, from elected political leaders, to champions of Labor, and ultimately the decades of skill and sweat provided by the anonymous thousands who developed the expertise to make the dream of a new air tanker possible. Thanks to all of them - and congratulation to the Pentagon, they definitely got it right this time.
