F-35 program slammed by auditor general

[JohnyCanuck]

Defence Department criticized for not running fair competition to replace aging CF-18 fleet
By Meagan Fitzpatrick, CBC News
Posted: Apr 2, 2012 6:32 PM ET
Last Updated: Apr 3, 2012 11:57 AM ET

The Department of National Defence did not run a fair competition to choose the F-35 fighter jet, is likely underestimating the total procurement cost, and made key decisions without required approvals or proper documentation, the auditor general concludes in his spring report released today.

Michael Ferguson's first report as auditor general is heavy-hitting, and highlights a long list of problems with how the decisions were made to buy 65 F-35 planes to replace the aging CF-18s. But it also raises questions about how much the planes will cost and what DND officials were telling Canadians, and their members of Parliament, about that pricetag.

Defence Minister Peter MacKay announced in July 2010 that Canada would be buying the F-35 Lightning II through its participation in the U.S.-led Joint Strike Fighter Program, but Ferguson said it was the fighter jet of choice as far back as 2006.

"When National Defence decided to recommend the acquisition of the F-35, it was too involved with the aircraft and the JSF Program to run a fair competition. It applied the rules for standard procurement projects but prepared key documents and took key steps out of proper sequence," the report says.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/04/02/f35-auditor-general-report.html?cmp=rss

[Lint Head]

1. More contractor B.S. shoved onto the backs of the tax payers.

[msongs]

2. contractors should have to EAT cost overruns as part of their incompetence and greed ...

here is how it works:

place a bid that you know is a total lie
get the contract based on that bid from your paid off politicians
jack up the costs by a magnitude of whatever you can get away with
there will be no accountability so you can get away with almost anything
keep asking for more $$
take years beyond your bid so you can keep getting more $$

[Joe Shlabotnik]

3. you forgot

- Charge millions for basic informational disclosure of your product
- Impose stiff contractual penalties for anyone getting cold feet
- Don't worry about the final price because new austerity measures will ensure that you get paid
- Don't worry about critics because the media will mock them, new surveillance will out them, new laws will convict them, and new prisons will disappear them.