Defective Parts | The Contracting Education Academy

August 8, 2018 By AMK

Navy’s top acquisition priority stumbles out of the gate

The U.S. Navy’s $122.3 billion Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine program is off to an inauspicious start after faulty welding was discovered in several missile tubes destined for both the Columbia and Virginia-class programs, as well as the United Kingdom’s follow-on SSBN program.

**The future ballistic missile submarine Columbia, the lead boat in the next generation of nuclear missile boats.** (drawing courtesy of US Navy)

In all, 12 missile tubes manufactured by BWXT, Inc., are being scrutinized for substandard welds. Seven of the 12 had been delivered to prime contractor General Dynamics Electric Boat and were in various stages of outfitting, and five were still under construction. The Navy and Electric Boat have launched an investigation, according to a statement from Naval Sea Systems Command spokesman Bill Couch.

“All BWXT welding requiring volumetric inspection has been halted until the investigation is complete,” Couch said.

The bad welds came to light after discrepancies were discovered with the equipment BWXT used to test the welds before shipping them to GDEB, according to a source familiar with the issue.

The discovery of a significant quality control issue at the very outset of fabrication of Columbia injects uncertainty in a program that already has little room for delays. The issue is made even more troubling because it arises from a vendor with an excellent reputation, and raises questions about whether the Navy can deliver Columbia on time, something the Navy says is vital to ensuring continuous nuclear deterrent patrols as the Ohio class reaches the end of its service life.

Keep reading this article at: https://www.defensenews.com/breaking-news/2018/08/06/the-us-navys-top-acquisition-priority-stumbles-out-of-the-gate-after-bad-welds-discovered-in-missile-tubes/

August 22, 2016 By AMK

Whistleblowers exposed contractors who sold defective helmets to Pentagon

Two contractors — one private and one government-owned — manufactured defective combat helmets ordered by the Pentagon, costing the government millions, a watchdog said last week.

Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz released a summary of two fraud investigations by his office and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, with help from Army personnel, in response to whistleblower allegations made by two employees of Federal Prison Industries.

Helmets 08.2016

The defective products in two models were advanced combat Kevlar helmets used by the Army and lightweight helmets used by the Marines. The probes determined that the deliverables were made with “degraded or unauthorized ballistic materials, [and] used expired paint and unauthorized manufacturing methods.”

Keep reading this article at: http://m.govexec.com/contracting/2016/08/whistleblowers-exposed-contractors-who-sold-defective-helmets-pentagon/130843

April 6, 2016 By AMK

How shoddy parts disabled a $2.7 billion submarine

In early 2015 engineers on a brand-new submarine made a troubling find: A pipe joint near the innermost chamber of its nuclear-powered engine showed signs of tampering.

The defective elbow pipe, used to funnel steam from the reactor to the sub’s propulsion turbines and generators, showed evidence of jury-rigged welding that could’ve been designed to make it appear satisfactory. But the part was already installed, the sub already commissioned.

These defective parts, each probably valued on the order of $10,000 or less, have kept the $2.7 billion attack submarine Minnesota languishing in an overhaul for two years, while engineers attempt to cut out and replace a difficult to reach part near the nuclear reactor. Meanwhile, Navy engineers are scouring aircraft carriers and other submarines for problems and criminal investigators are gathering evidence.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.navytimes.com/story/military/2016/03/27/minnesota-two-years-in-the-yards-virginia-class-attack-sub/81600432/

The U.S. Navy’s $122.3 billion Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine program is off to an inauspicious start after faulty welding was discovered in several missile tubes destined for both the Columbia and Virginia-class programs, as well as the United Kingdom’s follow-on SSBN program.

Two contractors — one private and one government-owned — manufactured defective combat helmets ordered by the Pentagon, costing the government millions, a watchdog said last week.

In early 2015 engineers on a brand-new submarine made a troubling find: A pipe joint near the innermost chamber of its nuclear-powered engine showed signs of tampering.

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