USAF Tries Again for Tanker Bid

Hey, it's been 50 years, what's a few more? The question now is, who's going to actually bid? And will Lou Dobbs blow another gasket when the winner is announced?

The Pentagon unveiled final terms for a high-stakes competition to build new US aerial refueling tankers, promising a fair contest for aviation rivals Boeing and Airbus parent EADS.
The approach favored neither firm and the Pentagon had steered "straight down the middle," Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn told reporters.
The 35-billion-dollar competition will be "fair, it's going to be open, it's going to be transparent," he said.
Wednesday's announcement marks the third attempt to replace the aging tanker aircraft fleet after years of controversy and scandal,
The final guidelines clarified technical requirements for the aircraft and allowed some flexibility to industry on contract pricing, but the basic terms for the deal have not dramatically changed since a draft proposal was issued in September, Lynn said.
Despite promises of a fair contest, it remained unclear if the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company and its partner Northrop Grumman would bid on the contract after accusing the Pentagon of favoring arch-rival Boeing.

By: Brant