Verification Review of U.S. Coast Guard's Acquisition of the Sentinel Class – Fast Response Cutter (OIG-12-68)

We conducted a verification review to assess the U.S. Coast Guard's progress on the recommendations from our August 2012 report, U.S. Coast Guard's Acquisition of the Sentinel Class-Fast Response Cutter, (OIG-12-68). We periodically conduct verification reviews to evaluate progress on selected audit recommendations, including whether corrective actions achieved the intended result. The Coast Guard’s plans to reduce risks during the OPC acquisition show progress toward achieving the intended results of our recommendations. However, it is too early in the OPC acquisition to determine whether the Coast Guard has fully implemented its plans. According to Coast Guard officials, they took steps to mitigate risks early in the OPC acquisition as a result of our audit report recommendations. In January 2013, the Coast Guard revised its Major Systems Acquisition Manual to establish a design maturity level prior to Critical Design Review and to support low-rate initial production decisions with an operational assessment. We determined that the Coast Guard has established a design maturity level for the OPC and plans to conduct two low-rate initial production phases, each supported by operational assessments.