Effort to restore procurement policy credibility in wake of Darleen Druyun scandal
Hundreds of US Air Force contract decisions dating to 1992 will be re-opened for scrutiny as the service seeks to restore credibility to an acquisition system tainted by acknowledged corruption.
Marvin Sambur, assistant secretary of the air force, has asked the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) to review all contracting activities influenced by Darleen Druyun, his former principal deputy, who has acknowledged offering deals worth billions of dollars to Boeing as a "parting gift" to secure employment with the company after her retirement in late 2000.
Druyun came to the air force in 1992 after serving stints at NASA and the White House Office of Management and Budget. Meanwhile, the air force has forwarded contract protests on the C-130 Avionics Modernisation Programme (AMP) award to the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Druyun, who is now serving a nine-month prison sentence, has admitted in court documents to unfairly favouring Boeing's bid over Lockheed Martin's during the competition. Contractors including BAE Systems and L-3 Communications are expected to refile protests with the GAO. A decision could come within 100 days, although expedited cases can be resolved in less than 65 days. The GAO reviews expose the air force to financial penalties in cases of wrong-doing.
Druyun accumulated vast powers during her 12-year tenure, becoming the selection authority on 11 key contracts, five of which were awarded in whole or in part to Boeing, the air force says.
Since Druyun's departure, the air force has moved to return more decision-making powers to the service's five product centres. Sambur has also asked the OSD to review the reforms to ensure the Druyun episode cannot be repeated.
STEPHEN TRIMBLE / WASHINGTON DC
Source: Flight International
