Solid rocket motors provide most of the thrust needed for lift-off and during initial phases of shuttle flight. Morton Thiokol, Incorporated, has been the sole supplier of these motors since it won the contract in 1973. The Fiscal Year 1988 NASA Authorization Act required the NASA Administrator to issue a request for proposals for competitive development of an advanced motor by the time the President submits the fiscal year 1990 NASA budget request. The Act further directs the Administrator to consider constructing a government-owned, contractor-operated production facility and providing for a dual source of supply for the advanced motor. NASA issued the request for proposals for advanced solid rocket motor development in August 1988. As part of the program, new motor manufacturing facilities are to be constructed on government property. GAO finds that NASA's Acquisition Plan for the advanced solid rocket motor provides for full and open competition in the initial contract award and protects NASA's option to compete future contracts for advanced motor production, but does not guarantee continued competition. NASA will continue to purchase Thiokol's redesigned motors during the transition to the advanced motor program. Steps have been taken to enhance quality assurance and reduce industrial safety hazards at Thiokol's motor manufacturing plant. The Air Force Plant Representative Office, which monitors Thiokol's performance for NASA, and NASA, both believe that quality assurance has improved and that Thiokol management needs to devote more attention to industrial safety. GAO agrees, but believes that NASA needs to improve its monitoring of Thiokol's safety program.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Space Shuttle: Follow-Up Evaluation of NASA's Solid Rocket Motor Procurement. Report to the Chairman, Committee on Government Operations, House of Representatives


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    1989


    Size :

    50 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English