Army Corps of Engineers : known performance issues with New Orleans drainage canal pumps have been addressed, but guidance on future contracts is needed : report to the Chairman, Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate.

Format:

Book

Government document

Author/Creator:

United States. Government Accountability Office.

Contributor:

United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

United States. Army. Corps of Engineers--Procurement.

United States.

United States. Army. Corps of Engineers.

Flood control--Louisiana--New Orleans Region--Evaluation.

Flood control.

Hurricane Katrina, 2005.

Evaluation.

Louisiana--New Orleans Region.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (ii, 42 pages :) : illustrations, maps, digital, PDF file

Other Title:

Known performance issues with New Orleans drainage canal pumps have been addressed, but guidance on future contracts is needed

New Orleans pumping systems

Place of Publication:

[Washington, DC] : U.S. Govt. Accountability Office, [2007]

System Details:

text file

PDF

Summary:

Hurricane Katrina caused several breaches in the floodwalls along three drainage canals in New Orleans, contributing to catastrophic flooding. To restore the pre-Katrina level of hurricane-related flood protection, the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) decided to acquire several large-capacity pumping systems. During the process of acquiring, testing, and installing the pumping systems, issues with the pump contract and operation of the pumping systems came to light, including several identified in a Corps Independent Team Report (ITR). GAO was asked to evaluate the Corps' efforts to (1) develop contract specifications and award the contract, (2) address pumping system performance issues, (3) document contract modifications, and (4) reconcile contract payments. GAO reviewed contract and testing documents, observed the operation of the pumping system, and interviewed officials from the Corps, its consultants and contractors, and the ITR team. Schedule concerns drove the Corps' decisions in developing specifications for the pumping systems and awarding the contract, but the rush to award the contract resulted in deficiencies in key contract provisions. Specifically, the original factory test requirements were ambiguous, there were only limited provisions for on-site testing, and there were no criteria for acceptance of the pumping systems by the government. The Corps conducted an expedited competition to contract for the pumping systems and selected a supplier for contract award based largely on its ability to deliver the pumping systems by the June 1 start of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season. The Corps and the contractors have addressed and corrected known performance issues with the pumping systems. Concerns included hydraulic motor vibrations, the design of the hydraulic intake line, suspect pipe welds, and lower than expected pumping capacity. The pumping systems were installed prior to correcting these issues because the Corps believed it was better to have.

What extent contract or pump performance issues will affect the final amount paid for the contract during the close-out process.

Notes:

Record is based on bibliographic data in ProQuest U.S. Congressional Research Digital Collection. Reuse except for individual research requires license from ProQuest, LLC.

Includes bibliographical references.

Electronic reproduction. [Bethesda, Md.] : ProQuest, 2004. digital, PDF file. ProQuest U.S. Congressional Research Digital Collection. Mode of access: World Wide Web via ProQuest website.

Other Format:

Print version: United States. Government Accountability Office. Army Corps of Engineers

Microfiche version: United States. Government Accountability Office. Army Corps of Engineers. CIS 2008 J942-30

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.