Pentagon to release draft request for proposals for tankers

The Pentagon has completed work on a much-anticipated draft request for proposals to supply the Air Force with aerial refueling tankers and plans to distribute the document Wednesday to Congress and the two competitors for the lucrative contract.

The draft RFP, which will be released Wednesday, marks the first official step in a restarting competition for the contract, which Defense Secretary Robert Gates ordered in July after GAO uncovered significant errors in the Air Force's previous selection process.

In February, the Air Force awarded the $35 billion deal to Northrop Grumman Corp. and EADS, the European parent company of Airbus.

Boeing Co., the losing bidder, filed a protest with GAO, sparking a 100-day review of the award and GAO's finding that Boeing would have had a "substantial chance" of winning the contract but for the Air Force errors. The new competition is being handled by Pentagon acquisition chief John Young. Several lawmakers, including Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Norman Dicks, both Washington state Democrats, have said they fear the Pentagon will write the RFP to favor the larger Airbus A330 over Boeing's modified 767 aircraft.

Boeing has planned to build the tanker at its plant in Everett, Wash. Young has said he hopes to wrap up the competition by year's end but said there could be an "infinite number of obstacles" delaying the award into the next administration.