Coast Guard: Coast Guard Efforts to Improve Management and
Address Operational Challenges in the Deepwater Program
(14-FEB-07, GAO-07-460T).
The Coast Guard's Deepwater program is a 25-year, $24 billion
plan to replace or modernize its fleet of vessels and aircraft.
While there is widespread acknowledgment that many of the Coast
Guard's aging assets need replacement or renovation, concerns
exist about the acquisition approach the Coast Guard adopted in
launching the Deepwater program. From the outset, GAO has
expressed concern about the risks involved with the Coast Guard's
acquisition strategy, and continues to review Deepwater program
management. This statement discusses (1) the Coast Guard's
acquisition approach for the Deepwater program; (2) previous GAO
recommendations to the Coast Guard on Deepwater, highlighting the
importance of Integrated Product Teams; and (3) operational
challenges the Coast Guard is facing because of performance and
design problems with Deepwater patrol boats.
-------------------------Indexing Terms-------------------------
REPORTNUM: GAO-07-460T
ACCNO: A65929
TITLE: Coast Guard: Coast Guard Efforts to Improve Management
and Address Operational Challenges in the Deepwater Program
DATE: 02/14/2007
SUBJECT: Aircraft
Cost control
Equipment upgrades
Military forces
Military procurement
Performance measures
Procurement planning
Program evaluation
Program management
Risk assessment
Schedule slippages
Ships
Source selection
Strategic planning
Systems design
Technology modernization programs
Coast Guard Deepwater Project
Coast Guard Integrated Deepwater System
Fast Response Cutter
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GAO-07-460T
* [1]Summary
* [2]Background
* [3]Coast Guard's Acquisition Approach to Deepwater Program
* [4]System of Systems
* [5]System Integrator
* [6]Performance-based Acquisition
* [7]Deepwater Indicative of Broader, Systemic Acquisition Challe
* [8]Previous GAO Recommendations Have Focused on Three Areas
* [9]Program Management and the Importance of Integrated Product
* [10]Contractor Accountability
* [11]Cost Control through Competition
* [12]Coast Guard Efforts Related to GAO Recommendations
* [13]Performance and Design Problems Creating Operational Challen
* [14]Performance Problems with the Converted 123-Foot Pat
* [15]Design Problems with the Fast Response Cutter
* [16]Contacts and Acknowledgements
* [17]GAO's Mission
* [18]Obtaining Copies of GAO Reports and Testimony
* [19]Order by Mail or Phone
* [20]To Report Fraud, Waste, and Abuse in Federal Programs
* [21]Congressional Relations
* [22]Public Affairs
Testimony
Before the Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard,
Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, U.S. Senate
United States Government Accountability Office
GAO
For Release on Delivery Expected at 2:30 p.m. EST
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
COAST GUARD
Coast Guard Efforts to Improve Management and Address Operational
Challenges in the Deepwater Program
Statement of Stephen L. Caldwell, Acting Director
Homeland Security and Justice Issues
GAO-07-460T
Thank you for inviting me here today to discuss our reviews of the U.S.
Coast Guard's $24 billion Deepwater program. .
o the Coast Guard's acquisition approach for the Deepwater
program;
o previous GAO recommendations to the Coast Guard on Deepwater,
highlighting the importance of Integrated Product Teams; and
o operational challenges the Coast Guard is facing because of
performance and design problems with Deepwater patrol boats.
.
^1 GAO, Coast Guard: Progress Being Made on Deepwater Project, but Risks
Remain, GAO-01-564 (Washington, D.C.: May 2, 2001).
^2 GAO, Contract Management: Coast Guard's Deepwater Program Needs
Increased Attention to Management and Contractor Oversight, GAO-04-380
(Washington, D.C.: Mar. 9, 2004).
Summary
system-of-systems approach to replace deteriorating assets with a single,
integrated package of aircraft, vessels, and unmanned aerial vehicles, to
be linked through systems that provide command, control, communications,
computer, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR), and
supporting logistics. thus . The Coast Guard also used a system
integrator--which can give the contractor extensive involvement in
requirements development, design, and source selection of major system and
subsystem subcontractors.
. We recommended that, among other things, Coast Guard improve the IPTs by
initiating actions to establish timely charters and training. . Thus, one
recommendation we made for improving contractor accountability was to
devise a time frame for measuring the contractor's progress toward
improving operational effectiveness. . Consequently, we recommended that
Coast Guard develop a plan to hold the contractor accountable for ensuring
adequate competition among suppliers.
*** End of document. ***