Comments on: Levin, McCain Take Aim at Acquisition

By: GOTTOBELEVE

GOTTOBELEVE — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:57:00 +0000

The problem is the program has to be in such bad shape that even wakes Congress. The entire idea that the Department would let Congress knows that they have mismanaged hundred of millions of dollars and now need to scale back to through the baby out with the bath water should be a sign to the the world that:
we need changed.
we need leadership
we need integrity
we need to fire people

Take a ten minute look at the Defense Department Integrated Military Human Resource Systems and you want to scream fraud, waste and abuse.

Gordon England, David Chu and Tina Jonas should be brought back before Congress and made to answer why this is such a mess.

Dave Fisher and Beth McGriff as well as Paul Brinkley should be fire!!

Secretary Gates should stand up and do the RIGHT THING!!

By: wtpworrier

wtpworrier — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:26:47 +0000

“We are going to do everything we can legislatively to put an end to these horrific cost overruns that we have seen,” Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Tuesday at a joint press conference with McCain, the committee’s top Republican. McCain made clear he knew this legislation was just the beginning of the process.”

Thats called Congress doing it’s job, something the Repub control Congress failed to do during the last administration, thats why they lost and why they will loose again in two years. This is not a game, for some reason some of you fail to see that, it don’t matter. We’ve had enough of the bull, the jokes over, it’s time to put this Country back on track.

By: gotarmadillo

gotarmadillo — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 10:29:45 +0000

Imagine!
McCain and Obama agree-the DoD acquisitions is a mess!!

That says something, doesn’t it?

Acquisitions has it’s own little world and group of players, based on institutionalized thing-fear and salesmanship-and no fiscal responsibility.

By: TCB

TCB — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:53:49 +0000

Acquisiton cost increase are caused by DOD contractors under bidding cost and because we the goernment give out cost plus, incentive award, incentive fee contracts. Therefore the contractors can perform rework on articles until they make their profits and as long as they stay within their inflated delivery schedules they get their incentive fees/awards. All the government needs to do is give out fixed price contracts and cut their fat integrated delievery schedules, then all those cost overruns cost will be liable to the contractors.

By: jimtom

jimtom — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 12:16:00 +0000

One thing that needs to be realized is that the majority of the increased costs do not come from contracting at far below cost to win the contract, and announcing “budget overruns”, but from the government adding requirements to the various contracts, as long as the additions can be judged “in scope”.

By: CMSgt BillyD

CMSgt BillyD — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 11:54:22 +0000

It is refreshing to see the Congress, which hasn’t balanced a budget in years, just flushed $1 Trillion Dollars down the sewer, is sending a $400 Billion Dollar bill with hundreds of Demican AND Republicrat “porky little ammendments” through for approval and signature, has the spine to talk about reforming the DOD acquisition process. Sorry, Senators McEvin and Lain, but we just do not believe that contract costs will go down. There will be at least an equal transfer payment of the present overruns to 7 levels of Government bozos who will spend our tax money(without ANY oversight), but plenty of wing flapping, chest pounding, and congressional self-agrandizement(sp).

By: Rhys F

Rhys F — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 03:54:14 +0000

What they need is a bill that states that any increases above the contracted price that are not attributable to increased material costs, increased wages, or other OUTSIDE influences on the manufacturing process, must be met by the contracted manufacturer.

Contract prices will jump high, as manufacturers work out what it WILL cost them, and add on a bit for margin and a bit more for increases… but it will stop them contracting at far below cost to win the contract, and announcing “budget overruns” then claiming more money from the treasury to finish the job…

If you as a homeowner had a firm quote from a builder to re-roof your home as being $3000, signed a contract, and later with half the roof removed he came knocking on your door talking about budget over-runs and he needed another $1000 to finish the job… you’d have him in court in a flash for breach of contract and attempted extortion… why doesn’t the pentigon do the same?

By: mike j

mike j — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:24:25 +0000

Seems to be trying to fix the problem on the wrong end. These systems get sold based on inflated capabilities and low-balled costs, how in the world WOULDN’T they bust budget caps? “Oversight” actually ends up contributing to the problem.

A little honesty up front would do more.