By TONY CAPACCIO | Bloomberg | Published: December 23, 2020 The U.S. Navy's plan to deliver the first vessel in its $128 billion next-generation submarine program on time is at risk by a dependence on inexperienced contractors with spotty quality control track records, according to a congressional watchdog. The Government Accountability Office, in a restricted Nov. 6 report to the Pentagon and congressional defense committees, said the design contract for the first vessel in the Columbia-class sub fleet being built by General Dynamics Corp. could have a cost overrun of as much as 14%, or $384 million. The initial vessel in the new class of nuclear-missile-carrying subs, the Navy's highest-priority program, is due for delivery in 2027. The Navy wants the first submarine to launch on patrol in 2030.