What if you had a LCS party...

...and no one came?

The U.S. Navy may find itself alone at the altar if the stringent contract conditions it's demanding for the next Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) put off the two competing shipbuilders.

Both Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics are working on responses to the RfP issued by the U.S. Navy to build the next Littoral Combat Ships (LCS), but it is possible that neither shipbuilder will bid. (U.S. Navy)

Sources at Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics confirm that officials are hard at work preparing responses to the Navy's March 31 Request for Proposal (RfP). But they say the Navy's desire to transfer risk to the contractors may abolish any incentive to respond.

I like this bit.

A no-bid response from the shipbuilders might also be a way to wait out Winter's term and deal next year with a new administration and a new service secretary.

"Maybe the best strategy," the industry source said, "is to cool your heels, let the election clean these dudes out and deal with a new group."

Like I said, it looks like SECNAV Winter is doing his job.