The Space Force has designated a defense contractor to a blacklist aimed at ensuring accountability for underperformance and program delays. Lt. Gen. Philip Garrant, commander of Space Systems Command, mentioned this development during a Defense Writers Group event, noting, “There is a company on the watch list today. I won’t say who it is.”
This blacklist, known as the Contractor Responsibility Watch List (CRWL), was established by the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act. It empowers Space Systems Command to prevent poorly performing contractors from securing new contracts. Prior to this announcement, the service had not confirmed if the list had been utilized.
Garrant indicated that the CRWL has been effective, stating, “We’ve seen significant improvement in performance and attention at the most senior levels of the corporation.” Although he refrained from identifying the company, he acknowledged that it is involved in critical space programs.
The Space Force plans to broaden the use of this tool in the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Furthermore, authority for blacklisting contractors is expected to be handed over to Air Force space acquisition chief Frank Calvelli, who is known for publicly addressing defense contractors regarding schedule delays and the necessity for accountability in the industry.
Once the authority is transferred, Garrant suggested that Calvelli would likely employ it “more frequently.” Calvelli has been working on addressing long-delayed programs within the Space Force, including the GPS Next Generation Operational Control Segment (OCX) developed by RTX, which is poised to manage the Pentagon’s GPS satellite constellation, and the Advanced Tracking and Launch Analysis System (ATLAS) by L3Harris.
Recently, the Space Force removed RTX from a contract related to the development of new missile warning and tracking satellites due to cost overruns and schedule issues. Garrant cited this action as an example of the Space Force maintaining contractor accountability. He emphasized Calvelli’s commitment to holding both government and industry personnel accountable, stating that program managers have been relieved of their duties when necessary, reflecting the expectation of adherence to proposed costs, schedules, and performance metrics.
