Acquisition Screw-Ups Like Ford Carriers ‘Predictable;’ Congress Isn’t Fixing Them, Says GAO

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http://breakingdefense.com/2015/10/acquisition-screw-ups-like-ford-carriers-predictable-congress-isnt-fixing-them-says-gao/



Acquisition Screw-Ups Like Ford Carriers ‘Predictable;’ Congress Isn’t Fixing Them, Says GAO
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. on October 01, 2015 at 6:08 PM

CAPITOL HILL: Sen. John McCain says the $4.7 billion overrun on the Navy’s new Ford-class aircraft carriers is “unacceptable.” That’s understandable. But Congress’s own investigative arm, the Government Accountability Office, told McCain today it’s also “predictable.” Given our broken acquisition system, huge cost and schedule overruns on new designs are the norm, GAO said, adding that Congress’s preferred fixes may not do much.

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What should Congress do? “I actually don’t think it’s a matter of law or regulation or telling the Department to do anything,” Francis said. “Your biggest opportunity is when you’re approving the new program, and you really have to scrutinize that new program.” Are the cost and schedule realistic? Are the technologies mature? Are the risks under control? If they aren’t, then Congress must be willing to say “no,” he said.

“The extent the Department comes in (to Congress) with a bad business case, if you still approve it and fund it, you’re sanctioning it,” Francis said. “What you do with money sends messages as to what is acceptable.”

~snip~

The problem isn’t one you can pin on individuals, Francis said. It’s an entire system whose dysfunction extends beyond badly written rules to the unspoken culture in both the Pentagon and Congress.

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A minor change on the graphic. The USS Gerald R Ford cost $13,900,000,000 not $12,900,000,000 shown. Additionally, it is only 80% complete.