Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.) is the "clear frontrunner" to take over the powerful post of chairing the House Appropriations defense subcommittee, according to sources on Capitol Hill.

Dicks was the No. 2 Democrat on the panel until Rep. John P. Murtha's (D-Pa.) death Feb. 8 after complications following gallbladder surgery. He and Murtha joined the committee together in 1979, says George Behan, press secretary for Dicks.

Dicks' ascension to chairmanship could be perceived as a blow to the few powerful voices open to Northrop Grumman/EADS North America's concerns with the U.S. Air Force competition to replace KC-135 refuelers.

Murtha had visited facilities associated with both tanker teams, and both teams found him to be at least open to the idea of a so-called dual buy – or purchasing at least 12-15 aircraft from each team annually. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has been staunchly against that strategy because he said it would require more money to buy and support two contractors and two separate designs concurrently. However, despite Murtha's vocal advocacy of a dual-buy strategy, he did not take action to halt the Air Force's current request for proposals (RFP) process.

Dicks, whose northwestern state is home to significant Boeing operations, has been a highly outspoken proponent of Boeing's 767-based tanker proposal. Behan notes that Dicks has not always sided with Boeing on matters, including missile defense and the sale of Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft abroad, but Dicks is confident Boeing's proposal for the KC-X competition will win the latest competition. Behan signaled that Dicks, if made chairman, is unlikely to interfere with the current bid process.

Indeed, if made chairman, Dicks' lawmaking approach could become less parochial. Appropriations subcommittee chairmen - often called "cardinals" on Capitol Hill in recognition of their power - have to balance the needs of their districts with the needs of the committee, including the minority party, as a whole. "We'll see a different Norm Dicks," says one industry official. "When you become chairman, there is a metamorphosis you go through."

The Air Force issued a notice Feb. 9 to contractors that the final RFP would be released no earlier than Feb. 23. This final RFP is expected to include some changes to reduce the financial burden of the fixed-price development contract structure. The forthcoming RFP is also expected to allow contractors 75 days to provide bids rather than the 60-day turnaround in the draft RFP.

Photo: Architect of the Capitol