Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Price gouging by defense contractors
You would almost think that having a for profit company run a nuclear weapons lab is a bad idea.
In March, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks announced the largest Pentagon budget ever: $842 billion. Almost half will go to defense contractors.
Retired Air Force Lieutenant General Chris Bogdan, who spent his career overseeing the purchase of some of the country's most critical weapons systems, said there's an inherent conflict between the Pentagon and defense contractors.
"They are companies that have to survive, make profit. The Department of Defense, on the other hand, wants the best weapon systems it can have as quickly as possible and as inexpensively as possible. Those are opposite ends of the spectrum.
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"They are companies that have to survive, make profit. The Department of Defense, on the other hand, wants the best weapon systems it can have as quickly as possible and as inexpensively as possible. Those are opposite ends of the spectrum."
During LANS we started getting all this corporate language like "customers" when dealing with the DOE. The problem is that kind of corporate world the customers and the corporation are actually at odds. The corporation wants to get as high as a price for doing as little as possible. The whole idea of competition makes for better products works in open market but with LANS it was 12 years or something? The whole idea of a for profit for the labs makes no sense. It sort of makes sense for fighter planes when you actually have multiple companies competing and than the contract can be canceled or reduced. Even in that case there are abuses but for the LANS contract the inceptive to abuse the system is much higher. It is remarkable how much better LANL now that LANS is out. Things are more effective, more professional, and now there is more money more purpose and you do not hear this weirdo language of "our costumers" "we are a corporation now", "everything is perception", or "my bonus is all that matters".
5/24/2023 12:06 PM
Haven't been back there since I quit LANS after their first year, but glad to hear it.
But just think of all the money they are saving on employee benefits, plus no one sticks around long enough to get into the higher vacation accruals.
Hopefully, the NNSA will show LLNS, the once sister for-profit to the defunct LANS, the door too.
I think there is a 75% chance the next contractor to manage LLNL will be a less expensive and more workforce acceptable non-profit like Triad. Bechtel (who runs the show) will be in the rear view mirror at LANL and LLNL.
Bechtel (who runs the show) will be in the rear view mirror at LANL and LLNL.
5/26/2023 7:50 AM
It is remarkable how bad Bechtel has been to LLNL and LANL.
Bechtel is a disaster wherever it goes.
Bechtel has been in the rearview mirror at LANL for 10 years. No direct influence at all.
“The whole idea of a for profit for the labs makes no sense. It sort of makes sense for fighter planes when you actually have multiple companies competing and then the contract can be canceled or reduced.”
Agreed. For-profit LLCs like LLNS have no business being a contractor of the federal government because they are not “making fighter planes” or providing other such products or services where competition is in play. There is no real-time incentive for LLNS to deliver a satisfactory product or service in a traditional open market environment. We should go back to the non-profit model with a flat fee. This would also move the employer “satisfaction” needle in a positive direction among the current and future employees working at LLNL.
Bechtel has been in the rearview mirror at LANL for 10 years. No direct influence at all.
5/27/2023 7:00 PM
??
What are you talking about we have been over this before so many times. I take it you never had to deal with the Bechtel people at LANL during LANS?
bobber,
5/27/2023 7:00 PM
Bechtel was pretty bad, many blame UC for screwing up which allowed for LANS to come in. I do not care what people say before LANS came in they did the lab, DOE and the United States a service when they fired Walp, Doran, and Montana. American is a safer pace because of this.
now we wait.....
What are you talking about we have been over this before so many times. I take it you never had to deal with the Bechtel people at LANL during LANS?
5/28/2023 1:21 PM
Yes I did. LANS took over in 2006. That's 17 years ago. LANS was out in 2018 when Triad took over and LANL now has no connection at all with Bechtel.
Yes I did. LANS took over in 2006. That's 17 years ago. LANS was out in 2018 when Triad took over and LANL now has no connection at all with Bechtel.
5/30/2023 7:26 PM
Ok, we are in agreement. The point was LANL has gotten much better since 2018, remarkably better, now that Bechtel is out. Last time I checked 5 years is less than 10 years, so I am simply not getting your point. The thread was about how privatization of certain government functions is a a bad idea. LANS was one example and there has been many others. Yes LANL is out and it is a good thing. We cool now?
worth revisiting:
“Nuclear Weapons Complex Reform Could Mean Pay Cut For Contractors”
https://www.govexec.com/management/2014/05/nuclear-weapons-complex-reform-could-mean-pay-cut-contractors/84475/
Yes LANL is out and it is a good thing. We cool now?
5/30/2023 11:39 PM
You mean "Bechtel is out now."
Once a Bechtel indoctrinated LLNS or former LANS manager, (LANSLLNS) is comfortable knowing, they are not working with their subordinate employees in good faith, they are ethically past the point of no return. Sad to see, and most unfortunate for long term Lab mission objectives.
“When it comes down to dealin' friends, it never ends”
-Eagles
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