Three members of the Alabama congressional delegation said in a letter to Navy Secretary Ray Mabus that the service is putting price ahead of quality and performance in preparing a winner-take-all showdown to buy up to 10 littoral combat ships. A draft bid request released last month is structured “to buy the cheapest ship without consideration of any other factor,” wrote Sen. Richard Shelby, Sen. Jeff Sessions, and Rep. Jo Bonner. The Navy is dramatically changing its approach to procuring the littoral combat ships. Instead of continuing with two hull designs, one built by General Dynamics and the other by Lockheed Martin, the Navy will choose a single structure. Austal USA, in Mobile, Ala., is part of the General Dynamics team. (Sources: Mobile Press-Register, Aviation Week, 12/04/09). 
Shipbuilding and maritime related news from the Central Gulf Coast region
Friday, December 4, 2009
Cost looms too large in LCS competition?
Three members of the Alabama congressional delegation said in a letter to Navy Secretary Ray Mabus that the service is putting price ahead of quality and performance in preparing a winner-take-all showdown to buy up to 10 littoral combat ships. A draft bid request released last month is structured “to buy the cheapest ship without consideration of any other factor,” wrote Sen. Richard Shelby, Sen. Jeff Sessions, and Rep. Jo Bonner. The Navy is dramatically changing its approach to procuring the littoral combat ships. Instead of continuing with two hull designs, one built by General Dynamics and the other by Lockheed Martin, the Navy will choose a single structure. Austal USA, in Mobile, Ala., is part of the General Dynamics team. (Sources: Mobile Press-Register, Aviation Week, 12/04/09). 