Navy Shipbuilding: Increasing Focus on Sustainment Early in the Acquisition Process Could Save Billions

Abstract

The U.S. Navy requested over $40 billion each of the last 3 years to build, operate, and sustain its fleet. Acquisition decisions made as ships are developed and built can have a long-term effect on sustainment costs and ship quality. GAO was asked to assess the extent to which DOD considers and plans for sustainment when acquiring weapons. Among other objectives, this report assesses the extent to which: (1) Navy ship programs deliver ships to the fleet that can be sustained as planned; (2) the Navy develops and uses effective sustainment requirements during acquisition; (3) ship programs are effectively identifying and evaluating sustainment risks in planning documents; and (4) leadership considers programs sustainment planning and outcomes. GAO reviewed DOD and Navy acquisition policy and guidance, evaluated acquisition plans, collected sustainment metrics, and conducted interviews with more than 100 organizations, including program office and fleet units. GAO assessed 11 classes of shipbuilding programs (all nine that delivered warships during the last 10 years, as well as two newer classes of ships). GAO is making one matter for Congressional consideration to enhance oversight and 11 recommendations to help DOD and Navy improve ship sustainment. DOD concurred with 8 and partially concurred with 3 recommendations but did not describe specific actions, which GAO believes are necessary to improve sustainment outcomes.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2020
Accession Number
AD1098935

Entities

People

  • Alexis Olson
  • Ann Halbert-brooks
  • Anna Irvine
  • Anne L. Taylor
  • Brian Bothwell
  • Carl Barden
  • Diana Moldafsky
  • Jean Mcsween
  • Jillian Schofield
  • Joshua Garties
  • Kya Palomaki
  • Laura Greifner
  • Laurier Fish
  • Lori Fields
  • Sarah Evans
  • Shelby S. Oakley
  • Shivarthn Maniam
  • Tara Kumar
  • Tonya Woodbury

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircraft Carriers
  • Attack Submarines
  • Business Administration
  • Commercial Equipment
  • Congress
  • Control Systems
  • Cost Estimates
  • Data Analysis
  • Department Of Defense
  • Engineering
  • Engineers
  • Governments
  • Intellectual Property
  • Littoral Combat Ships
  • Logistics
  • Maintenance
  • Military Acquisition
  • Naval Operations
  • Naval Warfare
  • Navy
  • Submarine Warfare
  • Systems Engineering
  • Systems Management
  • Test And Evaluation
  • United States
  • United States Government
  • Uss Gerald R. Ford
  • Uss Zumwalt

Readers

  • Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
  • Maritime and Naval Warfare Studies
  • Public Financial Management and Budgeting