How the Naval Aircraft Factory checked private prices

The Naval Aircraft Factory manufactured many airship components even when final assembly took place in larger facilities elsewhere. Keeping this capacity under Navy control also provided an independent basis for estimating cost. A proposed aircraft design could be sent to the factory manager in Philadelphia for a production estimate, much as naval dockyards offered a reference for shipbuilding costs. Differences in manufacturing techniques required adjustment, so the result was a ballpark figure. A private quotation far outside that range then demanded an explanation.