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Virginia Class Submarine Program Team Wins 2005 DSPO Achievement Award

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060310-14
Release Date: 3/10/2006 4:42:00 PM

From Team Submarine Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Defense Standardization Program Office (DSPO) selected the Program Executive Office for Submarines' Virginia Class Submarine Program Team (VCSPT) as Navy recipients of the 2005 DSPO Achievement Award Feb 2.

DSPO annually recognizes individuals and organizations from military departments and defense agencies that have achieved significant improvements in interoperability, cost reduction, quality, reliability, and readiness through standardization.

“Receiving the DSPO Achievement Award validates the Virginia Class program’s on-going efforts to reduce costs by streamlining the construction process,” said Rear Adm. William H. Hilarides, Program Executive Officer (Submarines). “The Program Office is working tirelessly so that we can deliver these tremendous platforms to the warfighter without overburdening the taxpayers.”

VCSPT won the DSPO Achievement Award for its work in Life Cycle Savings Through Standardization (LCSTS) project. This program turned to standardization to reduce the overall acquisition, operation, and maintenance costs of the Virginia Class program. Consequently, the Virginia Class Program Office (PMS450) Integrated Product and Process Development strategy was able to reduce PMS450's overall logistics footprint.

The LCSTS project also condensed the Virginia Class submarine parts library before the first ship of the class, USS Virginia (SSN 774), was to the Navy delivered Oct. 12.

One metric of success is PMS450's $27 million investment in parts standardization. The Navy estimates that this will result in a cost avoidance of up to $789 million over the life of the Virginia Class Program. The impact of this and other standardization successes has lead to projected cost avoidance of $80 million for the SSGN submarines, and $72 million for USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23).

The project has not only saved taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, but has enhanced the Navy’s reputation for sound stewardship of public shipbuilding and acquisition funds.

DSPO will present the award during the Department of Defense Standardization Conference May 23 at the Westin Arlington Gateway Hotel, Arlington, Va.