Program Manager Medium and Heavy Tactical Vehicles Needs to Improve Acquisition Practices.

摘要

The objective was to assess the propriety of allegations made to the Defense Hotline concerning acquisition practices at Program Executive Office Land Systems; Program Management Office, Medium and Heavy Tactical Vehicles. Specifically, we determined whether Command followed proper procedures for urgent acquisitions of the Automatic Fire Extinguishing Systems for the Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement. We also assessed whether funding was based on well-defined and validated requirements. This is the second of two audits that addressed the acquisition practices in the Program Manager Medium and Heavy Tactical Vehicles (PM MHTV) office. Of four allegations made to the Defense Hotline, we substantiated one, partially substantiated one, and did not substantiate two allegations. Specifically, we: substantiated that the PM MHTV office requested funding for unknown, future engineering change proposals; did not substantiate that the PM MHTV initiated acquisitions before there was a documented and validated requirement; partially substantiated the PM MHTV did not fully document acquisition decisions; or make sure they were made by the proper authority; did not substantiate that the PM MHTV committed to equipment solutions without considering life-cycle costs or other alternative solutions. The PM MHTV plans to buy an additional 3,500 Automatic Fire Extinguishing System (AFES) units for the Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement, at an estimated cost of $24 million, on a sole-source contract that was not justified. Also, the PM MHTV provided the milestone decision authority inaccurate and incomplete information to determine the system s suitability as an abbreviated acquisition program and its readiness to enter production. As a result, any cost reductions that could be achieved through competition for 3,500 additional units will be lost. In addition, there was no assurance that the Government will receive the best value.