"All I want is ships as fast as I can get them,” said Rear Adm. Chad Jacoby when asked about maintaining two shipbuilders for the Offshore Patrol Cutter program.
The watchdog found the program's cost has increased 40 percent over the past 10 years, and accumulated a year-and-a-half delay on the first four vessels.
The jet-powered transport’s speed, survivability and multi-mission agility position it as a viable option to the C-130 for the US and NATO allies.
Eastern Shipbuilding is escalating its efforts to overturn a $3.3 billion shipbuilding contract awarded by the Coast Guard earlier this year.
The accusations stem from a 2016 joint venture with a Chinese shipbuilder that was effectively ended last year.
So far, ESG is the only known bidder to file a bid protest against the Coast Guard's decision to award Austal a contract worth potentially $3.33 billion.
The Offshore Patrol Cutter is one of the Coast Guard's top acquisition priorities, on par with its heavy icebreakers.
Protecting warfighters requires fast, accurate, and dependable systems that work flawlessly to military standards.