The Air Force bought soap dispensers for an aircraft bathroom at almost 8000% of their going rate, prompting criticism from the Pentagon after a series of unruly purchases.
Defense Department Inspector General Robert Storch announced Tuesday that the world's largest Air Force spent $149,072 on plastic pump soap dispensers for the C-17 military aircraft. Storch was allegedly informed of the expenditure through an anonymous tip, reported USA Today.
The Inspector General found in his review that the force "did not consistently pay reasonable prices" for spare parts required for the C-17. The dispensers were only part of this cost, with the Air Force paying a total of about $1 million in unnecessary costs after purchasing 12 different spare parts for the aircraft.
"The Air Force needs to establish and implement more effective internal controls to help prevent overpaying for spare parts for the remainder of this contract, which continues through 2031," Storch said in a statement. "Significant overpayments for spare parts may reduce the number of spare parts that Boeing can purchase on the contract, potentially reducing C-17 readiness worldwide."
In 2018, the Air Force was criticized after it was reported that they spent $10,000 on a toilet seat cover for the C-5 cargo plane. The same cover would have cost them $300 to 3-D print, reported Defense One.
"You'll think: there's no way it costs that," explained assistant Air Force secretary for acquisition Will Roper to Defense One. "No, it doesn't, but you're asking a company to produce it and they're producing something else. And for them to produce this part for us, they have to quit producing what they're making now."
"They're losing revenue and profit. So although it looks like it's a certain price in the GSA [Government Services Administration] catalog, the business case is what drives it up," Roper continued.
The Air Force, which stated they would seek repayment of about $900,000, supported the inspector general's goal to "determine whether spare parts prices are allowable and reasonable before payment".
They also released a statement saying that they would be working to update contracts and ensure the accuracy of payments.
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