By Canadian Press

Military procurement chief wants defence firms to stop overpromising, underdelivering

Apr 19, 2023 | 9:47 AM

OTTAWA — The Defence Department’s top procurement official says he would like to see defence companies put more focus on delivering what they have promised and less on trying to win the next contract.

Assistant deputy minister of materiel Troy Crosby says he respects that companies are in the business of trying to make money, but that they also need to meet their commitments to the federal government, the military and Canadians.

Defence companies like Airbus and Sikorsky Helicopters have come under recent scrutiny as they have struggled to make good on their promises to deliver search-and-rescue airplanes and maritime-patrol helicopters.

In both cases, the companies have been accused of overpromising to win multibillion-dollar contracts before falling short on fulfilling those pledges — to the detriment of the Canadian military and taxpayers.

Crosby says the Defence Department is adopting new ways to determine whether companies can actually meet their commitments when bidding on contracts.

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But he says he also wants companies to be more forthright in what they can deliver and when.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 19, 2023.

The Canadian Press