Deepwater Report Spells Trouble

The New York Times reports today that an assessment by the Defense Acquisition University has concluded that the multibillion-dollar Coast Guard Deepwater acquisition is in trouble. The Coast Guard “should be directed to consider the products and services of companies other than” Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, the report concludes. For at least some of the ships planned for purchase under the program, the agency should drop its innovative pre-set pricing approach and conduct full competitions, the report says.