Defense Acquisitions: Sound Business Case Needed to Implement Missile Defense Agency's Targets Program
GAO-08-1113
Published: Sep 26, 2008. Publicly Released: Sep 26, 2008.
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Highlights
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is likely to spend $460 million annually on missiles used as targets for flight tests. Executing these tests depends on the quality and availability of targets. Congress asked GAO to assess (1) if MDA is providing reliable targets; (2) the causes of any deficiencies; and (3) if resolutions exist for any problems identified. To do this, GAO analyzed acquisition policies and procedures; flight test data; and budget, program execution, and acquisition materials; and interviewed MDA and DOD officials.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| The Congress has repeatedly stressed the need for robust testing of the Ballistic Missile Defense System and has become concerned with the health of the MDA targets program. The Congress has also expressed concern that the FTF program is proceeding at a slower pace and greater cost than expected. Therefore, Congress may wish to consider whether to require the Secretary of Defense to report the departmentally approved missile defense target development and procurement strategy, business case, and baselines to the Congressional Defense Committees. |
Closed – Implemented
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MDA conducted a business case analysis in order to identify a new acquisition plan to address problems with cost, schedule and performance problems, and initiated a new acquisition plan in 2009. This acquisition plan called for separate contract awards for different classes of targets. MDA developed and briefed Congressional staff on its targets acquisition strategy and business case in August 2009. In addition, baselines are reported annually to the Committees in MDA's annual BMDS Accountability Report. |
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should require the Director, MDA to establish a revised business case for providing reliable and timely targets for a robust flight test program. Such a business case should, among other things, (1) determine the best approach for providing an ample supply of quality targets to support the missile defense flight test program, including consideration of approaches other than the FTF; (2) demonstrate that the chosen approach--including the attendant acquisition and contracting strategy-can be executed with available technologies, funding, time, and management capacity; (3) establish separate cost, schedule, and performance baselines for each class of target under development against which progress can be measured; and (4) reflect input from key organizations, such as the Missile Defense Executive Board, independent cost estimators, and the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation. |
Closed – Implemented
The Missile Defense Agency conducted a business case analysis, and released a Targets and Countermeasures acquisition strategy in July 2009, and established baselines in the 2010 Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Accountability Report (BAR), but the agency subsequently made decisions that were not consistent with this new acquisition strategy. Therefore, this recommendation has been partially implemented. 1) The business case analysis which was approved on July 23, 2009 did not include an assessment of quality and schedule measures of effectiveness, which are part of the evaluation criteria in the source selection process. In addition, the strategy called for competing as many as five new target contracts. Since this strategy was issued, only one new target type has been competitively awarded. 2) It is not clear whether the chosen approach will require new technologies, funding, time and management because the solicitation for the medium range ballistic missile target, and the draft solicitation for the intercontinental ballistic missile target were issued but then cancelled prior to award. The contract for the intermediate range ballistic missile was competed and awarded in the second quarter of fiscal year 2011. 3) The Agency established a Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Accountability Report (BAR) in July 2010, which established separate cost, schedule, and performance baselines for each class of target under development. 4) Neither the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation nor independent cost estimators were identified as participants in preparation of the acquisition plan. In addition, only integration costs were considered in the estimate.
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| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should align MDA's plans and resources with the targets program approach resulting from the above business case. |
Closed – Not Implemented
MDA released a new business case and acquisition plan for the Targets and Countermeasures program in July 2009 but failed to fully implement the new acquisition plan when two target solicitations were cancelled in 2010 and an undefinitized contract action was awarded instead. In addition, MDA established resource baselines in the 2010 BMDS Accountability Reports but subsequently revised them in 2011 and 2012.
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Topics
Agency proceedingsBallistic missile defenseBallistic missilesCost analysisDefense capabilitiesDefense cost controlDefense economic analysisDefense procurementFederal procurementMissile basesMissilesOperational testingProcurement planningProduct evaluationProgram evaluationRequirements definitionRisk managementSchedule slippagesStrategic planningSurface to air missilesSystems designCost estimatesCost growth