[Comments on Army's Planned Procurement of Fragmentation Artillery Parts]

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Army's justification for procuring high fragmentation artillery ammunition under limited competition. GAO noted that: (1) although the Army's justification and approval document discussed in depth the need to prove-out the two ammunition plants' new manufacturing process, the Army did not clearly document the need for a mobilization base; (2) one plant's prior contract for a small quantity of the metal parts had no apparent bearing on the present procurement; (3) most of the Army's large ammunition items have been procured through mobilization bases; and (4) the Competition in Contracting Act permits mobilization base exceptions to preserve production capacity for national emergencies despite the added cost of restrictive competition.