Coast Guard Acquisitions: As Major Assets are Fielded, Overall Portfolio Remains Unaffordable
Abstract
The Coast Guard is managing a multibilliondollar effort to modernize aging assets, including ships, aircraft, and information technology, to provide new capabilities to conduct missions ranging from marine safety to defense readiness. The Coast Guard has made progress in its acquisition management capabilities, such as more closely following acquisition best practices and taking steps to increase competition. However, GAO has consistently found that DHS and the Coast Guard recognize, but have yet to address, the fact that the Coast Guard s acquisition needs are not affordable. This statement is based on GAO s body of work issued during the past three years on Coast Guard major acquisitions and highlights GAO s recently completed review of the transfer to the Coast Guard of the C- 27J aircraft as well as observations regarding the Coast Guard s fiscal year 2016 Capital Investment Plan. The statement addresses the status of the Coast Guard s (1) aviation assets, particularly the C-27J aircraft and (2) surface assets, as well as (3) the overall affordability of its major acquisition portfolio. GAO has made a number of recommendations to improve acquisition management and assess the affordability of the Coast Guard s portfolio. DHS and the Coast Guard agreed with GAO s recommendations and are working on implementing them by revisiting the Coast Guard s mission needs and fleet mix, as well as creating a 20-year acquisition plan that balances needs and resources, though the agencies have not specified when they will finish these efforts.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 14, 2015
- Accession Number
- ADA617694
Entities
People
- Michele Mackin
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office