WASHINGTON, March 31 (Reuters) - Alabama Republican Senator Richard Shelby on Wednesday said the Pentagon made 'the right decision' in offering to extend the deadline for tanker bids and said he hoped Europe's EADS would be able to offer a competitive bid.
'The Department of Defense made the right decision today in extending the deadline for bids on a new aerial refueling tanker,' said Shelby. 'A sole-sourced contract would have served only Boeing's interests. The presence of a competitor better serves the interest of our warfighters and American taxpayers. It is my hope that EADS will be able to offer a competitive bid, despite the fact that the RFP has been skewed toward Boeing from the beginning.' (Andrea Shalal-Esa in Washington; +1 202 898 8400, washington.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
'The Department of Defense made the right decision today in extending the deadline for bids on a new aerial refueling tanker,' said Shelby. 'A sole-sourced contract would have served only Boeing's interests. The presence of a competitor better serves the interest of our warfighters and American taxpayers. It is my hope that EADS will be able to offer a competitive bid, despite the fact that the RFP has been skewed toward Boeing from the beginning.' (Andrea Shalal-Esa in Washington; +1 202 898 8400, washington.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.