Defense Inventory: Action Needed to Avoid Inappropriate Sales of Surplus Parts
NSIAD-98-182
Published: Aug 03, 1998. Publicly Released: Aug 03, 1998.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Defense's (DOD) disposal process for surplus parts with both military technology and flight safety risks, focusing on DOD's efforts to: (1) identify and destroy parts with military technology; and (2) implement a flight safety program to prevent aircraft parts with potential flight safety risks from being sold through the disposal process.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | To prevent the sale of parts with military technology and flight safety implications, the Secretary of Defense should develop an action plan with specific milestones for addressing the problem of inaccurately assigned demilitarization codes. In developing the plan, consider: (1) the recommendations of the DOD Inspector General and the Defense Science Board; (2) GAO's previous recommendation to provide guidance on selecting appropriate codes; and (3) procedures to ensure that items listed in different data systems have the same demilitarization code in each system. |
Closed – Implemented
The Defense Science Board's final report on the demilitarization program was released in September 1999. It contains recommendations to improve the accuracy of assigned codes. An action plan addressing improvements needed in the demilitarization program is being developed. Input has been requested from the DOD components. All actions are to be completed in fiscal year 2003.
|
| Department of Defense | To prevent the sale of parts with military technology and flight safety implications, the Secretary of Defense should establish milestones for completing the imaging system that will provide guidance on how to destroy the military technology inherent in items. |
Closed – Implemented
The Navy has been assigned responsibility for developing an imaging system that will provide detailed instructions on how to destroy the military technology inherent in items, including the incorporation of before and after photographs. DOD stated that it is developing an action plan that will incorporate milestones for completing the imaging system.
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| Department of Defense | To prevent the sale of parts with military technology and flight safety implications, the Secretary of Defense should establish milestones for fully implementing the Flight Safety Critical Aircraft Parts Program initiatives and institute requirements for the Secretaries of the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy and the Director of the Defense Logistics Agency to periodically report on the progress being made. |
Closed – Implemented
An implementation plan, dated October 31, 1998, established milestones for implementing the flight safety program. DOD has increased its emphasis on identifying surplus parts with safety implications and making data system changes necessary to implement the flight safety identifiers. As a result, 14,990 additional parts with flight safety implications have been identified for inclusion in the program.
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Topics
Aircraft componentsInventory control systemsMilitary inventoriesMilitary technologyMilitary materielProperty disposalSurplus federal propertyTransportation safetyDefense logisticsU.S. Army