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NSIAD-94-45R 1 (1993-11-22)

handle is hein.gao/gaobacklo0001 and id is 1 raw text is: (3 United States GAL General Accounting Office Washington, D.C. 20548 National Security and International Affairs Division B-254857 November 22t 1993 The Honorable John D. Dingell Chairman, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Committee on Energy and Commerce House of Representatives Dear Mr. Chairman: This report responds to your request that we review the design and construction of certain ground support systems included in the production facility for the B-2 bomber at Air Force Plant 42, Palmdale, California. Specifically, you asked that we determine (1) the costs of correcting problems in the ground support systems that provide hydraulic pressure, cooling air, and fuel to B-2 aircraft during test and checkout and production flight tests; and (2) whether Northrop misrepresented problems with these systems to the Air Force. As a result of discussions with your office, we also reviewed the causes of the problems that occurred and determined whether some costs were incurred that might have been avoided. We also inquired about the level of oversight of the construction project provided by the Air Force. Your request made reference to a false claims act lawsuit brought against the Northrop Corporation by one of its employees, alleging that Northrop had installed ineffective ground support systems in one building, and had failed to install the systems in other buildings. It further alleged that Northrop, upon determining that the systems were ineffective, and knowing that the systems were not installed in some buildings, delivered the systems to the Air Force, misrepresented the causes of the problems to the Air Force, and inappropriately charged to the Air Force under a fixed-price construction contract, certain costs of repairing and or replacing the systems. The lawsuit was amended later to recognize that the contract was cost reimbursable. The false claims act lawsuit was dismissed without prejudice, with the consent of the United States Attorney, in July 1993. GAO/NSIAD-94-45R B-2 Facilities