Thousands of problems found on amphib ship

Colleges & Universities United States Naval Academy (USNA)
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<p><a href=“http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/04/navy_sanantonio_070420/[/url]”>http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/04/navy_sanantonio_070420/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>InSurv notes 5,564 ‘cards’ aboard San Antonio. Crew contends with ‘incomplete’ ship</p>

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<p>The LPD 17 is another FUBAR weapons acquisition program. The estimated cost to correct the discrepancies is $36M. Northrop Grumman gets off the hook and BAE Systems wins with a contact to complete construction of the USS San Antonio. Some of the discrepancies include items like missing handrails on ladders – this is just amazing.</p>

<p>The Navy is having similar problems with the LCS (Littoral Combat Ship) program. Has NAVSEA forgotten how to manage ship construction programs?</p>

<p>And then we have our sister service - the Coasties - having problems with Lockheed Martin and the multi-billion dollars acquistion program to modernize their fleet. Lockheed has been delivering cutters that are experiencing hull and structural damage. They have also been installing systems that don’t meet contract specifications.</p>

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<p>These projects are specific to the Pascagoula shipyard which, from what I understand, used to put out a pretty decent product. Not to deflect blame where it is due, but how much of this might be attributable to the aftermath of Katrina?</p>

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<p>^^^^^
The lead LCS ship constructed by Lockheed Martin was built at a shipyard in the Great Lakes region. The second ship was to be constructed in LA.</p>

<p>CNO: Lockheed could lose part of LCS contract:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/03/ntlcs070308/[/url]”>http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/03/ntlcs070308/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Stop-work order lifted on LCS:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/03/navy_lcs_contract_070321w/[/url]”>http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/03/navy_lcs_contract_070321w/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Navy cancels third LCS amid cost overruns:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/04/navy_lcs3_cancelled_070412w/[/url]”>http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/04/navy_lcs3_cancelled_070412w/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Deadline nears for Navy, Lockheed LCS deal:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/04/defense_LCS_deadline_070411/[/url]”>http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/04/defense_LCS_deadline_070411/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Showdown ends in cancellation:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/04/defense_LCS_showdown_070413/[/url]”>http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/04/defense_LCS_showdown_070413/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Bill would end joint contract in Deepwater:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/03/coastguard_deepwater_kerry_070323w/[/url]”>http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/03/coastguard_deepwater_kerry_070323w/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Coast Guard drops Deepwater contractors:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/04/ap_deepwater_070417/[/url]”>http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/04/ap_deepwater_070417/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Justice investigating Deepwater contract:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/04/coastguard_inquiry_deepwater_070419w/[/url]”>http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/04/coastguard_inquiry_deepwater_070419w/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p><a href=“http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/04/navy_lcs_070425/[/url]”>http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/04/navy_lcs_070425/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>I have been under the impression that military manufacturing contracts go to the lowest bidder. Maybe the handrails were an upgrade.</p>

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<p>Weapons acquisitions are solicited and awarded based on a two-part submission - a technical proposal and a cost proposal. The contracts are supposed to be awarded based on a best-value evaluation. The major problem with these contracts is that the scope creeps and the cost escalates. </p>

<p>These contracts are normaly awarded on cost-reimbursement basis, which means that the contractor has no risk. The contractor will be reimbursed for all direct costs (including their own screwups), overhead/G&A and a fee (profit). CPAF (cost-plus-award-fee) contracts are notorious for having cost overruns.</p>

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<p>Handrails are required by OSHA and are also required by the mil. specs. that should have been part of the contract.</p>

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<p><a href=“http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/07/navy_lpd17_070710/[/url]”>http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/07/navy_lpd17_070710/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>[Navy</a>, Marine leaders support 2 more LPD 17s - Navy News, opinions, editorials, news from Iraq, photos, reports - Navy Times](<a href=“http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/03/navy_morelpds_030608w/]Navy”>http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/03/navy_morelpds_030608w/)</p>

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<p>The problems with San Antonio did not just happen, they developed over time. For example:
“The contract to build her was awarded on 17 December 1996 to Northrop Grumman Ship Systems of New Orleans, Louisiana and her keel was laid down on 9 December 2000. She was launched on 12 July 2003 and christened on 19 July. She was originally scheduled to be commissioned 17 July 2002, but was delayed by generally poor performance at the Avondale shipyard, which resulted in her being towed from New Orleans to the Northrop Grumman shipyard Pascagoula, MS in December 2004 for completion there (she was unable to move under her own power at that time, despite have been christened over a year earlier). Hurricane Katrina, which caused damage to the coastal Mississippi area then impacted her schedule, although her crew took delivery and moved aboard only three days prior to the hurricane, she became a regional focus of disaster relief efforts including accomodations for some shipyard workers, the National Guard, Navy diving and salvage personnel and government officials. She arrived in her new homeport of Norfolk, VA on December 14th, 2005.”</p>