Alice Lipowicz reports in Federal Computer Weekly that
The Coast Guard would be required to terminate its Integrated Deepwater Systems contract with Lockheed Martin Corp. and Northrop Grumman Corp. when it expires in June under legislation submitted late last week by Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.).
The remainder of the $24 billion contract should be competitively bid to avoid further delays and reduce waste. The value of the remainder of the contract was not immediately available, Kerry said.
Kerry’s legislation, called the Deepwater Accountability Act, was introduced two days after the Coast Guard announced it would separately rebid a portion of the Deepwater contract covering about $600 million for 12 fast-response cutter patrol boats. A request for proposals is anticipated in May.
Kerry said in a statement that the Coast Guard’s rebidding of the fast-response cutter was a “good first step,†but more reforms are needed.
“It is long overdue for the Coast Guard to make the necessary reforms to protect taxpayers and prevent further delays in the Deepwater program,†Kerry said…
