Summary: Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Air Force's procurement of portable liquid oxygen and nitrogen generating plants to determine its compliance with Department of Defense (DOD) policy regarding protection against nuclear, biological, and chemical attack.
GAO found that the Air Force: (1) complied with DOD policy by evaluating the plants' needs for nuclear, biological, and chemical attack protection; (2) concluded that it did not need to protect the plants, since it planned to reduce operations to minimize personnel exposure and use uncontaminated stored products if such attacks occurred; and (3) planned to keep storage tanks full and shut down or move plants if it perceived a risk of attack. GAO also found that DOD: (1) determined that protection for the plants was desirable, but not essential; and (2) directed the Air Force to buy only the units it needed to meet immediate needs and to consider protection for future procurements. GAO believes that protection for the plants would offer the Air Force an expanded capability and operational versatility in meeting its needs.
