Review of Air Force Award Procedures concerning Repair Contracts of J75 Afterburner Cylinders

Gao ID: PSAD-78-78 February 16, 1978

Birken Manufacturing Company indicated that the Air Force improperly prevented it from competing because it was not a qualified repair source even though the company and its predecessor were the original manufacturer of the items. Officials at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center where the repair contracts were awarded stated that, under the center's procedures, the normal qualification requirement for Birken would have been waived if no other qualified firm was available. However, another firm qualified and had received sole-source repair contracts for several years. According to center personnel, the ability to manufacture an item does not assure the ability to repair it. The Air Force contract award and qualification procedures were generally adequate, but activities requiring repair services should qualify more than one source, if possible, and this was not done by the center. Qualification testing of Birken's repair process has been initiated and, if it is satisfactory, the company will be allowed to compete in future repair contracts.



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