Procurement of the Propeller Blade Heaters for the C-130 and P-3 Aircraft

摘要

This report is one in a series involving the pricing of commercial and noncommercial spare parts. During a previous audit, we identified prices for C-130 aircraft propeller blade heaters as a topic warranting further review. The virtual prime vendor contract was issued to United Technologies Corporation, Hamilton Standard Division. This report addresses pricing problems with the C-i 30 and P-3 blade heaters. In 1998, DoD paid $1.4 million for C-130 and P-3 blade heaters. Both blade heaters are manufactured by BF Goodrich and are procured on the Hamilton Standard virtual prime vendor contract through Derco Aerospace, subcontractor to Hamilton Standard. The Defense Supply Center Richmond awarded and used the virtual prime vendor contract to procure the C-i 30 blade heaters. The Defense Industrial Supply Center started using the virtual prime vendor contract to procure the P-3 blade heaters in 1999. Prior to the virtual prime vendor contract, the P-3 blade heaters were procured directly from BF Goodrich. In June 1999, United Technologies Corporation acquired Sundstrand Corporation and merged its Hamilton Standard division creating a new company, Hamilton Sundstrand.