Investigations of Allegations Regarding Army Practices in Purchasing Language Laboratory Systems for Use by Foreign Countries

Gao ID: PSAD-77-104 April 28, 1977

Allegations were made by James J. Goodin of Educational Media Division, Oklahoma City, regarding certain Army practices in purchasing language laboratory systems for use by foreign countries. The allegations were: (1) that Army specifications were restrictive because they specified system features exclusive to the successful bidder's equipment; (2) that because three-motor reel-to-reel tape transports were generally not available, serious restrictions on competition for future purchases and future availability of spare parts were caused; and (3) that reel-to-reel transports are obsolete and a cassette tape recorder system might be more economical for language use training.

The Army's specifications were not restrictive to equipment manufactured by the successful bidder. American manufacturer's three-motor reel-to-reel tape transports suitable for language laboratory system use are available as a special-order item. However, there was no documented evidence that reel-to-reel equipment is superior to cassette equipment for overseas use.

Recommendations

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