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Sergeant York: Concerns About the Army's Accelerated Acquisition Strategy

NSIAD-86-89 Published: May 30, 1986. Publicly Released: Jun 25, 1986.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on: (1) the Army's unique accelerated acquisition strategy for the Sergeant York weapon and its suitability for use in future programs; (2) the protection against cost growth offered in the warranty contract's provision, particularly regarding technical performance problems; and (3) the weapon's achievements in specific areas during testing.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Defense When the Army considers the application of the accelerated acquisition strategy to the Sergeant York program for future programs, the Secretary of Defense should require the Army to make an initial assessment of the technical risks involved in individual subsystems, as well as in the integration of those subsystems into one system, with an explicit focus on whether the technology being attempted is compatible with an accelerated acquisition strategy. Built into the strategy should be provisions for adjusting schedules and other program facets if technical difficulties occur.
Closed – Not Implemented
No actions will occur on this program because it was terminated. The Department of Defense (DOD) application of similar strategies on future weapons will be assessed in individual GAO reviews of those programs. GAO will pursue this issue in its reviews of new acquisition programs, including the Forward Area Air Defense System, which is to replace the Sergeant York program.
Department of Defense When the Army considers the application of the accelerated acquisition strategy to the Sergeant York program for future programs, the Secretary of Defense should require the Army to assess the weapon's technological progress periodically to see if it is still compatible with the planned acquisition. If technical progress is no longer keeping pace with the acceleration, the strategy should be adjusted to bring it in line with the technology.
Closed – Not Implemented
No actions will occur on this program because it was terminated. DOD application of similar strategies on future weapons will be assessed in individual GAO reviews of those programs. GAO will pursue this issue in its reviews of new acquisition programs, including the Forward Area Defense System, which is to replace the Sergeant York program.
Department of Defense When the Army considers the application of the accelerated acquisition strategy to the Sergeant York program for future programs, the Secretary of Defense should require the Army to ensure that the strategy provides for testing and evaluation sufficient to identify suitability and effectiveness, which have to be resolved before the initial production is approved.
Closed – Not Implemented
No actions will occur on this program because it was terminated. DOD application of similar strategies on future weapons will be assessed in individual GAO reviews of those programs. GAO will pursue this issue in its reviews of new acqusition programs, including the Forward Area Air Defense System, which is to replace the Sergeant York program.

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Topics

Weapons systemsArmy procurementContract performanceDefense cost controlFixed price contractsProduct evaluationProgram managementTestingMilitary forcesAcquisition strategy