10 août 2020 | International, Terrestre

Government watchdog warns of cost and technical risk for next-gen combat vehicle effort

By:

WASHINGTON — The Government Accountability Office is warning the Army its approach to cost estimates and technical development for its Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle program is risky and should be amended, according to an August 6 report.

The Army has already struggled to get the OMFV program, intended to replace the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, off the ground, canceling its previous solicitation to compete after receiving just one bid from General Dynamics Land Systems last fall.

And GAO, in its report, is concerned that the service's newest attempt to get after delivering an OMFV comes with risk because the program documentation “does not clearly communicate the uncertainty associated with projected costs” and limits the program's “ability to gather the knowledge to effectively mitigate risk associated with system design maturity.”

For one, the Army has come up with a singular cost estimate for the life-cycle of the program rather than a range of potential costs that takes uncertainty into account, according to the report.

The OMFV program cost estimate, the report notes, is roughly $46 billion in fiscal 2019 dollars.

“Our past work has determined that a point estimate alone is insufficient for managers to make informed decisions about the cost of a program,” the GAO writes. “For informed decisions, the cost estimate must reflect a degree of uncertainty, typically achieved through an uncertainty analysis, so that level of confidence can be given about the estimate.”

For example, the OMFV program will be optionally manned, “which adds complexity and unknowns to the design as no vehicle like this currently exists in the Army's ground vehicle fleet,” the GAO said. “But the uncertainty surrounding this complex design is not reflected in the point estimate.”

And because of this “decision makers are left making choices without a clear understanding of the impact on costs and may not be able to accurately budget for the program,” the report states.

The constrained development schedule for OMFV is also a cause for concern as it inevitably drives risk into the program. GAO notes the Army had laid out, in its previous solicitation, a plan to design and demonstrate an OMFV prototype in three years and three months, but has since spread the schedule out a bit more with the relaunch of the program and now plans to complete system development and prototype demonstration in “close to” five years.

The new solicitation also lays out a five-phase effort that will allow the Army to reassess the process at certain checkpoints throughout development, according to the report. The GAO also found promise in the Army's plan to use a modular open systems architecture to incorporate incremental upgrades.

In the Army's previous plan for OMFV it also planned to use a mix of existing and new technologies but, the GAO report states, the program did not include plans to complete an independent technology readiness assessment until it was approaching a production decision.

According to the Office of the Under Secretary for Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, in a report to Congress, “the least mature technology for OMFV had only been demonstrated at the component level in a laboratory environment,” the report notes, adding that the level of technology maturity would require “significant” additional development before it could be added to a weapon system.

“The Army is maturing, or has plans to mature, individual technologies to a level lower than the threshold recommended by leading practices before beginning system development,” the report says. “This creates a danger of limited insight into key technology risks.”

Critical technologies, GAO states, should be demonstrated in “an operational or realistic environment — not simply in a relevant environment — prior to their incorporation into a system design to ensure that they work as intended for the end-user.”

The GAO adds, based on past experience, that without proving out technology at that level, the Army risks the possibility that new capabilities won't work as planned and will require further maturation, which results in schedule slips and rising costs.

In the previous competition, OMFV didn't hold a systems engineering design review before beginning system development and the Army canceled the solicitation “in part due to the conclusion that contractors could not complete a system design that met requirements within the given schedule,” the report notes, which “illustrates the risk of beginning system development without conducting a systems engineering design review.”

Program officials told the GAO that the program office and requirements developers “may have misjudged the ability of contractors to integrate the desired technology within the given schedule.”

The GAO recommends the Army secretary direct the OMFV program office to include a range of cost estimates to support a range of possible outcomes as well as conduct systems engineering reviews at key decision points.

The report also lays out similar findings on the Mobile Protected Firepower program, which is heading into competitive prototype testing this summer. General Dynamics Land Systems and BAE Systems are competing to build the new light tank for Army infantry.

The GAO recommended the Army should ensure the MPF program also include a range of cost estimates that account for uncertainty.

https://www.defensenews.com/land/2020/08/06/government-watchdog-warns-of-cost-and-technical-risk-for-next-gen-combat-vehicle-effort/

Sur le même sujet

  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - March 20, 2019

    26 mars 2019 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité, Autre défense

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - March 20, 2019

    NAVY The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is awarded a ceiling priced $4,040,458,297 modification to convert a previously awarded advanced acquisition contract (N00019-18-C-1046) to a fixed-price-incentive-firm-target multi-year contract. The target price for this multi-year contract is $4,001,410,000. This modification provides for the full-rate production and delivery of 78 F/A-18 aircraft, specifically 61 F/A-18E and 17 F/A-18F aircraft for fiscal years 2018 through 2021. Work will be performed in El Segundo, California (61 percent); Hazelwood, Missouri (9 percent); Longueuil, Quebec, Canada (2 percent); Torrance, California (2 percent); Bloomington, Minnesota (2 percent); Ajax, Ontario, Canada (2 percent); Vandalia, Ohio (1 percent); Fort Worth, Texas (1 percent); Irvine, California (1 percent); Palm Bay, Florida (1 percent); Santa Clarita, California (1 percent); Grand Rapids, Michigan (1 percent); Greenlawn, New York (1 percent); Endicott, New York (1 percent); Marion, Virginia (1 percent); and various locations within the continental U.S. (13 percent). Work is expected to be completed in April 2024. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,557,334,000 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. American Systems Corp., Chantilly, Virginia (M67854-19-D-7870); Calibre Systems Inc., Alexandria, Virginia (M67854-19-D-7871); Corps Solutions, Stafford, Virginia (M67854-19-D-7872); Obsidian Solutions Group,* Fredericksburg, Virginia (M67854-19-D-7873); Science Applications International Corp., Reston, Virginia (M67854-19-D-7874); Solutions Through Innovative Technologies Inc., Fairborn, Ohio (M67854-19-D-7875); and Valiant Global Defense Services Inc., San Diego, California (M67854-19-D-7876), are awarded a multiple award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with firm-fixed-pricing arrangements for the procurement of Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Training Systems Support (MTSS), with a combined maximum ceiling amount of $245,000,000. MTSS provides pre-deployment training to the Marine Corps Operating Forces within a joint and combined environment to improve warfighting skills. Training includes realistic computer-based simulation training; command, control, computers, communications, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance training; combined arms staff trainer training; MAGTF tactical warfare simulation; and Deployable Virtual Training Environment. Work will be performed at Quantico, Virginia (55 percent); Camp Lejeune, North Carolina (15 percent); Camp Pendleton, California (10 percent); Twentynine Palms, California (10 percent); and Okinawa, Japan (10 percent), and is expected to be completed by March 19, 2029. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated as task orders are issued. The companies will compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with seven offers received. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Merrill Technologies Group,* Saginaw, Michigan (N68335-19-D-0038); and Precision Custom Components LLC,* York, Pennsylvania (N68335-19-D-0039), are each being awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts. These contracts provide for the delivery of various components in support of the aircraft launch and recovery and support equipment programs, to include critical safety item/critical application item. The estimated aggregate ceiling for all contracts is $42,240,000, with the companies having an opportunity to compete for individual orders. Work will be performed at contractor facilities in Merrill, Michigan; and York, Pennsylvania, and is expected to be completed in March 2024. No funds are being obligated at time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. These contracts were competitively procured via a 100 percent small business set-aside electronic request for proposals; three offers were received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, New Jersey, is the contracting activity. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Herndon, Virginia, is awarded $37,496,252 for modification P00002 to firm-fixed-price delivery order N0001918F0478 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-15-G-0026). This modification provides for the procurement and delivery of seven MR-TCDL B-Kits, one Mission Avionics Systems Trainer B-Kit, and associated A- and B-Kit spares for the MR-TCDL upgrade to the E-6B Mercury aircraft. Work will be performed in Salt Lake City, Utah (73 percent); San Diego, California (25 percent); and Boston, Massachusetts (2 percent), and is expected to be completed in October 2021. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $37,496,252 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Syracuse, New York, is awarded a $27,510,334 cost-plus-incentive-fee modification to previously-awarded contract N00024-09-C-6247 for the procurement of fiscal 2019 electronic warfare AN/BLQ-10 kits and spares to support program requirements. Work will be performed in Syracuse, New York (99 percent); and Manassas, Virginia (1 percent), and is expected to be completed by October 2022. Fiscal 2019 other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $27,510,334 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. MEB General Contractors Inc., Chesapeake, Virginia, is awarded a $20,334,000 firm-fixed-price contract for consolidated fuel facilities at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. The work to be performed provides for the construction of a new 6400 sq. ft. petroleum, oils, and lubricants operations facility with privately-owned vehicle parking for 60 vehicles; a new 2400 gallons per minute (gpm) Type III pump house facility and control room; four new 600 gpm high speed truck fillstands; a new reinforced concrete parking area for 20 fuel refueler trucks; piping modifications to the three existing aboveground storage tanks; new interconnecting piping; spill containment provision; a cathodic protection system; and supporting site work and utilities for the new facilities. Work will be performed in Sumter, South Carolina, and is expected to be completed by March 2021. Fiscal 2018 military construction (Defense Logistics Agency) contract funds in the amount of $20,334,000 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with three proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity (N69450-19-C-1304). Air Cruisers Co. LLC, Wall Township, New Jersey, is awarded an $8,026,673 long-term contract for repair of five various life raft inflatables in support of the Multi-Place Life Rafts System for use on various aircraft. The contract will include a three-year contract with two one-year option periods which if exercised, the total value of the contract is estimated to be $13,754,049. Work will be performed in Liberty, Mississippi. Work is expected to be completed by March 2022; if all options are exercised, work will be completed by March 2024. No funds are obligated at the time of award. Annual working capital funds (Navy) will be obligated as individual task orders are issued. Funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was a sole-source, non-competitive requirement pursuant to the authority set forth in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1, with one offer received. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity (N00383-19-D-UC01). ARMY American Mechanical Inc.,* Fairbanks, Alaska (W911KB-19-D-0012); Brice Civil Constructors Inc.,* Anchorage, Alaska (W911KB-19-D-0013); Central Environmental Inc.,* Anchorage, Alaska (W911KB-19-D-0014); Derian/OCC JV,* Anchorage, Alaska (W911KB-19-D-0015); and Patrick Mechanical LLC,* Fairbanks, Alaska (W911KB-19-D-0016 ), will compete for each order of the $200,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for design, construct and repair of utilidor/utility systems. Bids were solicited via the internet with six received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of March 18, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Anchorage, Alaska, is the contracting activity. Applied Visual Technology Inc.,* Orlando, Florida, was awarded a $10,153,464 modification (P00005) to contract W900KK-18-D-0019 for systems engineering and software support. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of March 19, 2020. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE Company Deloitte Consulting LLP, Arlington, Virginia, has been awarded a $39,933,653 firm-fixed-price contract for technical and programmatic expertise and recommendations. This contract provides for force optimization analysis support to HQ Air Combat Command. Work will take place at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by June 15, 2022. This contract is the result of a competitive acquisition and three offers were received. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $4,949,388 are being obligated at the time of award. Headquarters Air Combat Command Acquisition Management and Integration Center, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, is the contracting activity (FA4890-19-F-A024). (Awarded March 19, 2019) DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Freeman Holdings of Louisiana LLC, doing business as Million Air Lake Charles,* Lake Charles, Louisiana, has been awarded a minimum $18,832,439 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment contract for fuel. This was a competitive acquisition with 148 responses received. This is a 47-month contract with a six-month option period. Location of performance is Louisiana, with a March 31, 2023, performance completion date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2023 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia (SPE607-19-D-0008). M&M Manufacturing LLC,** Lajas, Puerto Rico, has been awarded a maximum $13,781,250 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Navy Working Uniform blouses and Army Combat Uniform coats. This was a competitive acquisition with six responses received. This is an 18-month base contract with three one-year option periods. Location of performance is Puerto Rico, with a March 19, 2021, estimated performance completion date. Using military services are Navy and Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2021 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-19-D-1145). Eaton Aeroquip LLC, Jackson, Michigan, has been awarded a maximum $8,992,216 firm-fixed-price contract for hoses, assemblies and other related parts. This was a competitive acquisition with one offer received. This is a three-year contract with two one-year option periods. Location of performance is Michigan, with a March 20, 2022, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2022 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Columbus, Ohio (SPE7LX-19-D-0016). *Small business **Woman-owned small business in historically underutilized business zones https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1790554/

  • BAE Systems to manufacture advanced Block 4 F-35 electronic warfare systems to defeat evolving threats - Skies Mag

    4 avril 2023 | International, Aérospatial

    BAE Systems to manufacture advanced Block 4 F-35 electronic warfare systems to defeat evolving threats - Skies Mag

    BAE Systems has received $491 million in contracts from Lockheed Martin to produce Block 4?electronic warfare?systems for future Lot 17 F-35 Lightning II jets.

  • U.S. Air Force Expands Supersonic Study With Boom

    1 février 2022 | International, Aérospatial

    U.S. Air Force Expands Supersonic Study With Boom

Toutes les nouvelles