NMCI Vote Shocks Navy

The House Armed Services Committee recommended Aug. 2 that the Marine Corps be released from the $6.9 billion Navy-Marine Corps Intranet outsourcing initiative. The committee also cut President Bush's fiscal 2002 budget request for the NMCI program by $120 million, authorizing $527 million.

The committee criticized NMCI for program delays and raised questions about the Navy's funding and budget strategies.

The Navy disagreed with the committee's findings. Officials said that the Navy and prime contractor Electronic Data Systems Corp. are testing NMCI, and that more extensive tests could wait until next year.

Navy Capt. Chris Christopher said the Navy was shocked by the recommendations. He partly blamed the service for not "doing a good job in keeping Congress informed" of NMCI developments, which he said has led to a false belief that the contract is behind schedule.