IG: MSC prepositioning ship maintenance issues may have 'contributed' to $139M unplanned repair costs

By Justin Katz / September 27, 2018 at 11:46 AM

Military Sealift Command did not ensure its government-owned, contractor-operated prepositioning ships received required maintenance and, as a result, MSC may have contributed to $139 million in unplanned overhaul repair costs, according to a government watchdog.

The Sept. 24 Defense Department inspector general's report redacted several details including when the $139 million repair costs were incurred.

"MSC personnel did not maintain complete and accurate preventative maintenance plans because MSC did not update technical drawings and manuals to replicate the ships’ configurations and provide training to all [Shipboard Automated Maintenance Management] users on the system’s functionality," the report states.

The command awarded contracts that did not state specific requirements for the contractors' training and use of SAMM, did not ensure a contracting officer's representative was present to oversee the contractor and did not communicate contractual deficiencies to the contractors in writing, according to the inspector general.

The watchdog recommended MSC update its technical manuals and drawings, revise its policies so that system users are provided refresher training on the use of SAMM and update that system to "provide users with clear choices, capture preventative maintenance information more accurately."

The inspector general also recommended MSC review and modify all contracts to develop specific requirements for all users to attend formal SAMM training, ensure contracting representatives conduct "consistent surveillance" of contractors and document future contractual deficiencies.

The command's chief concurred with the inspector general's recommendations.

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