Navy Officials Paid for Northrop Golf Outing, Air Shows Travel, Audit Says

[unhappycamper]

Navy Officials Paid for Northrop Golf Outing, Air Shows Travel, Audit Says
By Tony Capaccio - Thu Dec 30 20:03:24 GMT 2010

Northrop Grumman Corp. was paid at least $206,000 by Navy contracts officials for “questionable” travel billings to a golf outing and international air shows, according to an audit by the Pentagon’s inspector general.

While Northrop Grumman subsequently reduced its billings by that amount after inquiries by the inspector general, “there is a potential for additional unallowable expenses charged” by the contractor, according to the Dec. 23 audit report.

The billing and payment of travel to a golf outing and to air shows in Paris and Singapore are emblematic of “serious problems with the overall management” of a $1.8 billion contract to develop the Navy’s first high-altitude drone for long-range surveillance, the report said. The development contract is the first part of a potential $19 billion program for 68 aircraft.

Altogether, Navy contracting officials didn’t thoroughly review or validate 39 bills to ensure Northrop Grumman was entitled to $329.3 million in payments so far, and haven’t made sure the contractor has an adequate inventory system to safeguard millions of dollars in government-furnished equipment, according to the audit report.

“As a result, the program is at risk for increased costs, schedule delays and not meeting the needs of the warfighter,” it said.



unhappycamper comment: Let me see: $19 billion dollars / 68 aircraft = $279 million dollars for an RQ-4. That's even more expensive that the $243 million dollar F-35.

[LiberalFighter]

1. There should be penalties when a contractor over bills.

Like double what they over bill.

[lonestarnot]

2. Isn't that a fine bunch of howdy doo doo.

[Submariner]

3. No Worry folks

The teabagging deficit reduction hawks that won over the House will probably cut out this kind of expense from the military industrial complex budget, like they should.

:sarcasm:

As a sometimes military contractor I'm always amazed at the plush office buildings of the military brass. At Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage, the buildings are lined with marble walls, floors, indoor columns, the best rosewood furniture and gold/silver desk accessories.

All on OUR f'ing Dime.

[xchrom]

4. dumb question -- what the hell is that ugly thing in the pic? does it really fly? nt

[asjr]

5. My question also. Is that a tinker toy humpback

whale?

[unhappycamper]

6. Oh yea:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RQ-4


(Methinks wikipedia needs to update the $$$$ on this thing.)

[xchrom]

7. thanks! nt