Acquisition woes.

• Author: Kojro, Chester A.
• Position: READERS' FORUM: VIEWS ... COMMENTS ... SUGGESTIONS - Letter to the editor

* In the article, "Preventive Care Prescribed for Pentagon Big-Ticket Programs," (February 2008, page 8), Ms. Erwin makes an interesting observation concerning cost overruns of numerous Pentagon programs, but I suggest that the budget process is not the problem. Rather, it is the broken acquisition process whereby the Pentagon has commingled research and development with production and acquisition.

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Three stories that also appear in the February issue are blatant examples of my point.

The article "Not So Fast on Fast Response Cutters, Coast Guard Says" reports that the contract award was delayed because of the initial requests for proposals proved too confusing. Too confusing? The urgency is only due to the failure of the previous effort to stretch the hulls of the existing 110-foot patrol boats. The Coast Guard was satisfied with the stretched design but the hulls proved too worn out and/or unsuitable for the alterations. Now, instead of manufacturing from start the longer-hull cutter, the Coast Guard does not even know what it wants in a "Fast Response Cutter" and is asking industry to design it. I have no problem with awarding a design and development contract, but in no way should this be a construction contract, given such an amorphous requirement.

The article "Numbers Game; More Amphibious Ships Are Needed, Marines Contend" is an interesting discussion of the challenges of fielding an adequate amphibious fleet, given changes in fleet totals, equipment, organizational and mission changes, etc. Yet then follows "Forces Afloat; Marine Corps Makes Strong Pitch for 'Sea Bases'" that lays out an alternative approach.

Worse, the "Sea Base" concept as described depends on the undefined Mobile Landing Platform (MLP), which in turn depends on undefined technical solutions and improvements to the Large Medium Speed Roll On/Roll Off (LMSR) ships. Still, "The Navy plans to award a contract for the MLP in 2010." Here we go again, beginning construction before finishing the design.

Worse yet, to...