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B-162313 1 (1972-07-27)

handle is hein.gao/gaobaagig0001 and id is 1 raw text is: 



                COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES         /
                         WASHINGTON, D.C. 2058                  /

                                              JUL 27 1972
B- 162313


Dear Senator Proxmire:

     Your letter of April 22, 1971, requested that we look
into statements, made by Mr. John McGee, concerning the fol-
lowing criticisms of the Department of Defense (DOD) Equip-
ment Oil Analysis Program.,;

     --The specification for the military spectrometer was
       tailor made foFa specific contractor, Baird-Atomic.

     --No other suppliers of spectrometers could meet the
       requirement of the specification included in the re-
       quest for technical proposals to supply the new spec-
       trometers.

     --Contractor-supplied spectrometers could not meet the
       original specification.

     --Commercial spectrometers are much more dependable than
       those furnished to meet Government specifications.

     --Cost of spectrometers built to the military specifica-
       tion increased between 100 and 300 percent.

     --The military services continue to operate their own
       oil analysis program, disregarding the Department of
       Defense program.

     In subsequent discussions Mr. McGee questioned (1) the
procurement of electrodes and calibration standards used in
the program, (2) the use of a civilian laboratory in Puerto
Rico, and (3) the Navy's purchase of spectrometers which did
not meet contract specifications.

     The information we obtained follows.

BACKGROUND

     The purpose of the oil analysis program is to monitor
the condition of engines by analyzing samples of lubricating
fluid from the engines. The samples are analyzed for metals
that wear off moving parts and mix with the fluid. The
analysis can identify abnormal wear of components before they



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