Supplier Provided Shoddy Metal for Navy SubmarinesDecember 09, 2010
 The U.S. Navy is investigating a Pennsylvania-based subcontractor for using shoddy metal in several of the service's submarines and ships. The Navy said that the metal failed to meet its specification and that the fraud was "calculated and widespread," according to an article published in theday.com. The investigation has cost the Navy $1.3 million so far and it may take years to determine the scope of the fraud. The service noted that the defective metal has so far been found in its Virginia-class submarines, in several other classes of submarines and in the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford, according to the article. The Navy did not comment on the safety implications but did note that it is "committed to ensuring the safety of its crew and ships," theday reported. The subcontractor, Bristol Alloys and its president, James Bullick, have already admitted to selling metal that had not been properly heat-treated, a technique to strengthen the metal. Furthermore, the company admitted that it filed counterfeit certificates showing the metal had been heat-treated. The assistant U.S. attorney prosecuting the case, John Pease, said he plans to seek restitution for the cost of finding all defective metal that has been used and replacing it. Electric Boat in Groton and Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding in Virginia are the lead contractors for the Virginia-class submarines. While Electric Boat referred all of theday's questions to the Navy, Northrop Grumman said it bought various metal components from Garvey Precision Machine in New Jersey. Garvey Precision Machine, in turn, bought metals and other parts from Bristol Alloys, which is based in Fairless Hills, Pa., according to the article. When Electric Boat found problems with some of the Bristol Alloy certificates, it asked Garvey Precision to investigate. Bristol refused to share the original mechanical and heat test reports, which led it to drop the company as a supplier, according to the article. Northrop Grumman alerted the Navy of the problems in 2009.
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