At breakfast with the CSAF yesterday, the Chief addressed the question of an RFP extension.
He said the Air Force would consider extending the RFP date IF EADS was serious. The point is, if EADS is serious, meaning capable and ready to make a serious bid that meets the RFP section L and M requirements, then the Air Force would be open to receiving the bid. The Chief did not go any deeper than that.
To think extending the deadline is done easily as a CYA, that isn’t accurate, as the Chief made clear, as the AQP staff made clear during discussions later that day.
Here’s the problem. The Air Force really needs EADS to bid to prevent Boeing from putting the screw to the Air Force on price. However, the politics strongly favor Boeing, and EADS does not want to waste $$millions preparing an RFP response just to help the Air Force get a lower bid from Boeing.
And I do believe it's a CYOA move been watching this going on for over three weeks...Seen this same song and dance from the AFMC Commander (4 Stars) to move an entire Test Wing not so far from where he was retiring...And it was determined that there was no conflict of interest...
