Senator Baldwin Questions Oshkosh Defense Decision to Manufacture USPS Trucks in South Carolina, Seeks Information on Oshkosh Bid

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin is questioning Oshkosh Defense about their decision to manufacture next-generation U.S. Postal Service (USPS) delivery vehicles in South Carolina, instead of in Wisconsin.

In February 2021, Oshkosh Defense was awarded a Next Generation Delivery Vehicle (NGDV) contract by the U.S. Postal Service, and in June the Wisconsin manufacturer announced that it would build the new delivery vehicles in Spartanburg, South Carolina, expecting to hire over 1,000 employees to do so.

In a letter to John Pfeifer, President and Chief Executive Officer, Oshkosh Corporation, and John Bryant, Vice President and President, Oshkosh Defense, Baldwin and U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) write:

“Oshkosh Defense has a long and proud history of manufacturing military vehicles in Wisconsin with skilled union labor. However, we are concerned about your recent decision to manufacture the trucks in a newly acquired facility, with new hires, in Spartanburg, South Carolina. We urge you to further scrutinize the final production location based on the strength of Oshkosh’s existing workforce. Oshkosh has a longstanding and skilled workforce in Wisconsin, with robust experience in manufacturing trucks for government service. As such, we are writing to better understand the process that led to the award of the contract and the decision to produce the NGDV at a new facility in South Carolina.”

The Senators noted that according to the Postal Service press release announcing the award, Oshkosh Defense was chosen for the contract after USPS evaluated production proposals submitted by the company. The same release goes on to say, “Oshkosh Defense is evaluating which of their several U.S. manufacturing locations is best suited to potentially increase the production rate of the NGDV.”

“This release suggests that Oshkosh Defense would manufacture the NGDV at an existing Oshkosh Defense location,” the Senators write.

The Senators also noted that according to the USPS, the NGDV Request For Information (RFI) responses were required to contain certain information including: capabilities to “produce, deliver, and provide for national deployment of up to 180,000 vehicles under this acquisition program;” “Past performance and experience relevant to . . . vehicle production;” “Information on the financial strength and resources of the organization [including] . . . technical capability, workforce, and facilities;” and “Identification of the locations where the supplier may manufacture the vehicles.”  

Senators Baldwin and Peters write, “In order to better understand the Oshkosh Defense bid and the USPS process, we are seeking more information about the production location, including information Oshkosh Defense provided to USPS describing the company’s workforce and current or proposed facilities for vehicle manufacturing.”

The full text of the senators’ letter can be found here and below.

Dear Mr. Pfeifer and Mr. Bryant:

We write to you today about the Next Generation Delivery Vehicle (NGDV) contract Oshkosh Defense was awarded by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) in February 2021. Along with its subcontractors across the nation, Oshkosh is responsible for production of these vehicles which will have a significant impact on the environment and create jobs in many communities. The investment is one part of the Postal Service’s overall efforts to replace its delivery fleet to reduce maintenance costs and emissions.

Oshkosh Defense has a long and proud history of manufacturing military vehicles in Wisconsin with skilled union labor. However, we are concerned about your recent decision to manufacture the trucks in a newly acquired facility, with new hires, in Spartanburg, South Carolina. We urge you to further scrutinize the final production location based on the strength of Oshkosh’s existing workforce. Oshkosh has a longstanding and skilled workforce in Wisconsin, with robust experience in manufacturing trucks for government service. As such, we are writing to better understand the process that led to the award of the contract and the decision to produce the NGDV at a new facility in South Carolina.

According to the Postal Service press release announcing the award, Oshkosh Defense was chosen for the contract after USPS evaluated production proposals submitted by the company. The same release goes on to say, “Oshkosh Defense is evaluating which of their several U.S. manufacturing locations is best suited to potentially increase the production rate of the NGDV.” This release suggests that Oshkosh Defense would manufacture the NGDV at an existing Oshkosh Defense location.

According to the USPS, the NGDV Request For Information (RFI) responses were required to contain certain information including: capabilities to “produce, deliver, and provide for national deployment of up to 180,000 vehicles under this acquisition program;” “Past performance and experience relevant to . . . vehicle production;” “Information on the financial strength and resources of the organization [including] . . . technical capability, workforce, and facilities;” and “Identification of the locations where the supplier may manufacture the vehicles.”   In order to better understand the Oshkosh Defense bid and the USPS process, we are seeking more information about the production location, including information Oshkosh Defense provided to USPS describing the company’s workforce and current or proposed facilities for vehicle manufacturing. 

We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter. As Oshkosh Defense responds to these requests and continues to prepare for production of the NGDV, we expect Oshkosh to focus on providing good-paying jobs, and respect collective bargaining, to support communities and work toward a sustainable future.

Sincerely,

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin

U.S. Senator Gary Peters

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