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GAO-13-57R 1 (2013-02-14)

handle is hein.gao/gaobacgwt0001 and id is 1 raw text is: AGAO A4countability * Integrity * Reliability United States Government Accountability Office Washington, DC 20548 February 14, 2013 The Honorable Jeff Sessions Ranking Member Committee on the Budget United States Senate Subject: Warfighter Support: Army's and Defense Logistics Agency's Approach for Awarding Contracts for the Army Combat Shirt Dear Senator Sessions: Flame-resistant clothing has been typically used by warfighters to protect them in situations where they face serious exposure to fire or incendiary devices. Prior to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, Department of Defense (DOD) personnel wearing flame-resistant clothing were mainly aviators, fuel handlers, and combat-vehicle crewmembers. However, with the growing prevalence of improvised explosive devices in Iraq and Afghanistan, warfighters serving there have been exposed more frequently to the risk of fire-related injuries. To provide warfighters deploying into combat areas (including Iraq and Afghanistan) with a garment that can mitigate the risk of sustaining fire-related injuries, the Army procured the Army Combat Shirt, which is a flame-resistant, moisture-wicking shirt designed specifically to protect warfighters against burns and provide maximum comfort as well. Through the Army Program Executive Office Soldier- the program manager responsible for the initial procurement of the Army Combat Shirt-the Army began procuring this shirt in fiscal year 2007 and through fiscal year 2012 has awarded over $310 million in contracts for the combat shirt. These contracts have been awarded to 8(a) firms' and to the National Industries for the Blind (NIB) and NISH2 nonprofit agencies. Beginning in fiscal year 2011, the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) assumed responsibility for sustainment contracting of the Army Combat Shirt and began the process of soliciting proposals and awarding contracts for the combat shirts. Transferring clothing and textile program functions from a military service to DLA is part of DOD's process for managing the life cycle of the procurement of supplies. This report addresses your request that we examine the approach that the Army used to award contracts for the Army Combat Shirt and that DLA is using to prepare to award future ones. 'The 8(a) program is one of the federal government's primary means for developing small businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. 2NISH was previously known as the National Industries for the Severely Handicapped, but is now only known as NISH. NISH is a nonprofit agency dedicated to creating employment opportunities for people with significant disabilities other than blindness. 3As described in Joint Publication 3-0 (Aug. 11, 2011), sustainment is the provision of logistics and personnel services, such as clothing items, necessary to maintain and prolong operations through mission accomplishment. 4A supply life cycle includes acquisition (design, development, testing, production and deployment), sustainment (operations and support), and disposal. GAO-13-57R Army Combat Shirt Procurement

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