Pentagon IG to Probe CSAR-X Requirement Change

Hot off the presses from Reuters:

The Pentagon's internal watchdog agency said on Friday it will audit a contested $15 billion helicopter program to see if the U.S. Air Force followed the rules when it changed military requirements for the aircraft.

The audit, due to begin next month, will examine whether changes to "key performance parameters" for the helicopter were properly disclosed and vetted through the Pentagon's Joint Requirements Oversight Council, according to a Feb. 19 letter from the Pentagon's inspector general announcing the audit.

Essentially the Defense Department's inspector general is going to examine issues we investigated in depth in our report on the CSAR-X deployability requirement change.  Aerospace Daily and Defense Report first reported on the change early last year.

Already the Air Force has privately admitted some of the shortfalls in the CSAR-X requirements oversight process, according to the Reuters piece:

Ken Miller, a top Air Force acquisition official, told members of the oversight subcommittee of the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee in December that there was insufficient documentation of changes in the CSAR competition, according to a letter from the subcommittee.

The Air Force reviewed its procedures after the meeting, and has tightened its rules to "address shortfalls in documentation of changes to key performance parameters,"according to an internal document obtained by Reuters.

UPDATE: Here's the DoD IG announcement:

-- Nick Schwellenbach

Comments

[Posted on: Feb 22, 2008 at 04:05 PM]

Dear POGO, 2/22/2008

Again my continued appreciation for your and your many supporters and those others in our Government that have again and presumably with great unselfish bravery, courage and determination to uphold proper and forthright effort towards Accountability have presumably stepped forward this proper and forthright endeavor.

Even though and most importantly that if I am correct, I have concern as if I am correct that our Secretary of State, Ms. Rice has to my recollection recently hired Mr. Paul Wolfowitz in a high positon most likely within thes paramaters. Also, if I am correct, I am somewhat extraordinarily perplexed that to my knowledge that an Organization that is mentioned as the American Bar Association has a publication Magazine that is soley owned or sponsored by the American Bar Association that several months ago has named former US AG Alberto Gonzales as the Attorney of the Year for 2007 and with follow-up and/or honorable mention candidates Karl Rove and another white house attorney whom has apparently resigned as reported apparently under critism. Also noted in this article was that this American Bar Association supported published magazine has in approxametly in 12/2007 awarded US AG Mulkasey the 2008 Attorney of the year award.

Good luck POGO and all within this matter and best wishes POGO in your many continued endeavors and hopefully with continued many successful accomplishments. There was to much good news with the intent and hopes for a better tommorrow and Accountability for my acknowledgement to go un-noticed. Many thanks for another (and as always implied and especially as always intended) highly superb and excellent Article from POGO.

Thank you and all for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Axel

Sincerely,
Axel