Lawmakers briefed on tanker rules

WASHINGTON - Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn and other top officials briefed lawmakers today about the final terms for a $35 billion aerial tanker competition. Among the first were Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin and Sen. John McCain. Rep. Norm Dicks said the changes in the RFP are "rather minimal," and said the Air Force reduced requirements for the contract from 373 to 372. Sen. Jeff Session of Alabama said he was "disappointed," and Rep. Mike Rogers, also from Alabama, said, "I don't think it looks promising." (Source: Reuters, Bloomberg, AP via New York Times, 02/24/10) Gulf Coast note: Boeing and the Northrop Grumman/EADS team both want to build the tankers. Northrop/EADS would assemble them in Mobile, Ala. Northrop has threatened to pull out of the competition if the RFP, which it says favors the smaller Boeing tanker, is not changed.