Pentagon Rejects Boeing-ULA Bid To Recover Disputed Delta 4 Costs

摘要

The U.S. Defense Department's contract-oversight agency has rejected a United Launch Alliance (ULA) request for recovery of $271 million in costs related to the Delta rocket program, a decision that both ULA and one of its two owners, Boeing Co., are fighting, Boeing said July 27. Chicago-based Boeing said that if the ruling stands, it could be required to indemnify ULA for up to $226 million. In a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Boeing said the U.S. Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) notified Denver-based ULA in June that $271 million in charges for which ULA is seeking reimbursement do not qualify under government contract rules. ULA, a 50-50 joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin Corp. of Bethesda, Md., builds the Delta and Atlas rockets and markets them to U.S. government customers. Prior to ULA's formation in 2006, the Delta and Atlas rockets were manufactured and marketed separately by Boeing and Lockheed Martin, respectively.