GAO: DOD Needs Better Billing of Space Launch Companies, Leaves Millions Uncollected
DOD might be missing opportunities to charge commercial space launch companies millions of dollars for their use of federal launch sites, the Government Accountability Office said Monday. That money could support infrastructure improvements at the sites, it added. DOD expects…
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to spend more than $18 billion on launch services and infrastructure over the next five years, according to GAO. Until recently, the department lacked the ability to bill for indirect costs of commercial launch services, including the cost of maintaining and operating its space-related facilities. DOD has more ability now to collect those costs, GAO said, but it still lacks clear cost-collection and reimbursement guidance for support services at launch ranges. It recommended that DOD ensure that the Space Force collaborates with the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense Comptroller to better define the guidance for collecting and reimbursing direct and indirect costs for support services at launch ranges. It also recommended that Space Force prioritize getting better insight into the schedules of commercial operators integrating payloads and launch vehicles.