WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Government Accountability Office (GAO) today announced its decision to sustain an appeal by Boeing over a tanker contract awarded earlier this year to EADS, the European Aerospace conglomerate and Northrop Grumman. Congresswoman Nancy Boyda (Kansas Second District) called the GAO’s decision “the right thing to do – for national security and for America’s economy.”

In today’s decision, the GAO said “a review of the record led us to conclude that the Air Force had made a number of significant errors that could have affected the outcome of what was a close competition between Boeing and Northrop Grumman.” Among the reasons for sustaining Boeing’s protest, the GAO said “the Air Force in making the award decision, did not assess the relative merits of the proposal in accordance with the evaluation criteria identified in the solicitation…” and that “the Air Force conducted misleading and unequal discussions with Boeing.”

Boyda said “I am extremely pleased the GAO has called for the Air Force to reopen contract discussions, re-evaluate the revised proposals and make a new source selection decision. After all, it just makes no sense for America to outsource our ability to defend our nation. In World War II, our nation’s manufacturers turned on a dime to produce the planes and trucks we need to keep America safe. With every contract we send overseas, we lose our capacity to build for our own military.”

“Please know,” added Boyda, “I will continue the fight to help protect our nation’s security and jobs in Kansas when it comes to awarding military contracts.”