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PSAD-78-124 1 (1978-07-07)

handle is hein.gao/gaobaaxrd0001 and id is 1 raw text is: 

DOCUMIENT REStEE


06640 - fB19269531

[Alleqgd Contractor Deficiencies in Modifying Minuteman Missile
Systeml. PSAD-78-12'4; B-146876. July 7, 1S78. Beleased July 14,
1978. 5 pp. * enclosure (12 pp.).

Report to Rep. Ron flarlenee; by Elmer B. Staats, Comptroller
Geae ra 1.

issue Area: Federal Procurement of Goods and Services: Nctifying
     the Congress of Status of Impcrtant Ficcurement krograms
     ( 05).
 Contact: Procurement and systems Acquisiticz Div.
 Budqet Function: National Defojnse: Department of Defense -
     Procurement & Contracts (058).
 Orqanization Concerned: Department of Defense; Department of the
     Air Force: Malmstrom AFE, MT; Boeing Co.; B. C. Smith
     Construction.
 Congressional Relevance: Rep. Ron Marlenee.
 Authority: Air Force Contract Management Livi~lon Regulation
     74-1.

          Quality assurance deficiencics were alleged in the Air
Force program to modify Minuteman silos at Malmstrcm Air Force
Base. The principal Air Force contract is bith the Boeing
company. The allegations relate mainly to work performed by the
subcontractor, H.C. Smith Constructicn, and involve substandard
welds, routie acceptance of work not meeting specifications,
inadequate testing and use of test results, lack of qualified
inspectors, nonperformance of required visual inspections, and
the implications of these problems on national sectrity. Bceing
encountered quality problems in the belding processes that H.C.
Smith Construction used in the modification process. The Air
Force acceptea JO silos before it discovered tke weld Ercblem,
and these silos are now suspected cf having sukstandard welds.
There was no evidence that the Air Fcrce rcutineiy accepted work
reported as defective by its iispectors. If the Air force
knowingly accepted work not in confcrmance kith ccntract
specifications, acceptance was justified cn the baris of
ezoi.omic and technical merits. The contract specified visual
weld inspection only, with no routine zequirements for physical
testing. both Boeing and the Air Force used noncertified weld
inspectors; until recently, the Air Fcxce provided little or no
technical traininq to its weld inspectors. Ihere is no
indication that any of these deficiencie4 till have any
significant effect on system effectiveress or national security.
(RRS)

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