R 171424Z NOV 10


SUBJ: USCGC WAESCHE FINAL ACCEPTANCE

1.  THE COAST GUARD EXECUTED FINAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE SECOND NATIONAL

SECURITY CUTTER, USCGC WAESCHE (WMSL 751), ON 05 NOVEMBER AT COAST

GUARD ISLAND, ALAMEDA, CALIF.  FINAL ACCEPTANCE OF WAESCHE IS PART OF

THE COAST GUARDS PLANNED ACQUISITION PROCESS. THIS MARKS THE END OF

THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT WAESCHE IS READY TO BE

TRANSITIONED FROM THE ACQUISITION TO THE SUSTAINMENT COMMUNITY AS

ESTABLISHED BY THE COAST GUARDS INTERIM SUPPORT PLAN.

2.  IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE POLICIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND

SECURITYS ACQUISITION AUTHORITY, THE CONTRACTING OFFICER

PRELIMINARILY ACCEPTED WAESCHE FROM THE SHIPBUILDER AFTER REVIEWING

AND ADJUDICATING ALL CONTRACTUAL REQUIREMENTS.  THE RECOMMENDATION

TO ACCEPT WAESCHE WAS CONCURRED WITH BY THE VICE COMMANDANT, BASED ON

INPUT FROM A COAST GUARD EXECUTIVE BOARD CONSISTING OF SENIOR LEADERS

FROM THE ACQUISITION DIRECTORATE, THE OPERATIONS DIRECTORATE,

OPERATIONAL COMMANDER, AS WELL AS THE COAST GUARDS TECHNICAL

AUTHORITIES, CG-1, CG-4 AND CG-6.

3.  FOLLOWING PRELIMINARY ACCEPTANCE ON 06 NOV 2009, WAESCHE HAS

SUCCESSFULLY MET NUMEROUS MILESTONES INCLUDING A READY FOR SEA

EVALUATION, HOMEPORT TRANSIT THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL, COMMISSIONING,

FLIGHT DECK CERTIFICATION, AIRCRAFT DYNAMIC INTERFACE TRIALS AND

INFORMATION ASSURANCE AND TEMPEST TESTING.  CURRENTLY, WAESCHE

CONTINUES TO EXECUTE THE SCHEDULED POST DELIVERY PLAN.  THIS PLAN

INCLUDES ENHANCEMENTS TO MISSION SYSTEMS, WEAPONS TESTING AND

INSTALLATION OF ADDITIONAL COMMUNICATIONS AND SENSOR EQUIPMENT.

4.  FINAL ACCEPTANCE REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE MADE POSSIBLE

THROUGH THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION OF NUMEROUS INTERNAL AND

EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING THE U.S. NAVY. SPECIAL APPRECIATION

GOES TO THE CREW OF WAESCHE, WHOSE TIRELESS COMMITMENT BROUGHT THIS

CUTTER TO LIFE.

5.  MORE INFORMATION ON THE NATIONAL SECURITY CUTTER PROJECT IS

AVAILABLE AT HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/ACQUISITION/NSC

6.  RADM RONALD J. RABAGO, ASSISTANT COMMANDANT FOR ACQUISITION,

SENDS.

7.  INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.