Today's Article
How can the Bush
Administration
rightly claim to watch
over all of us, when it
can't even properly
watch over itself?
Administration
rightly claim to watch
over all of us, when it
can't even properly
watch over itself?
The American Spark
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Pentagon Allows Poor Contracting Procedures To Flourish
By Cliff Montgomery - Jan. 17th, 2008
Government auditors have discovered yet more ways in which the Bush Defense Department (DoD)
mishandles our taxpayer dollars. The mistakes this time were found with Pentagon purchases made through
the Veterans Affairs Department (VA) in fiscal 2006, which "were either hastily planned or improperly
administered."
In a damning audit released in early January, the Pentagon's Inspector General (IG) revealed that both DoD
bosses and VA contracting officials failed to follow the Pentagon procurement and Federal Acquisition
Regulation rules when making buys through the VA.
The IG studied 49 purchases made by various Pentagon organizations--though principally those made by the
Air Force were reviewed--and found that only three procurements had been properly made.
"Specifically, DoD organizations lacked acquisition planning to determine the best source, proper statutory
authority and required agreements for non-DoD contracts," stated the audit.
The DoD and VA also showed major problems with their "contract administration, including [their] surveillance
of contractor performance, assignment of contracting officer representatives, preparation of quality assurance
surveillance plans, and collection and recording of contractor past performance," the study added.
And the Pentagon IG had a few extra words for those heading the VA. The IG discovered that of 24
procurements personally overseen by VA contracting officials, two-thirds were improperly awarded--and over
half failed to have the necessary documentation or other evidence verifying that the negotiated prices were
even reasonable.
VA contracting officials also could not explain to the IG why they failed to allow any competition for eight of 11
sole-source purchases examined.
"As a result, DoD organizations had no assurance that the purchases were based on best value or that the
VA used effective and efficient acquisition procedures," the IG declared.
The IG study concluded that the Pentagon should begin a procurement training course for its officials, and
should create more comprehensive policies to help ensure a proper management and use of inter-agency
contracts--and of taxpayer money.
Perhaps knowing when he's beaten, Defense procurement and acquisition policy Director Shay Assad stated
in a written response that the Defense Acquisition University has begun a study of all materials concerned with
inter-agency contracting procedures, and hopes to provide a course on the matter beginning in February.
Assad also promised other things, including that his office shall establish a policy which actually bars these
abuses of non-Defense contracting procedures, and that he will work to create a better policy with VA officials
"that will address roles and responsibilities regarding contracting administration and surveillance duties."
All of this forces a simple question: How can the Bush Administration--with its constant emphasis on its
Defense and intelligence departments--claim to have the ability to protect and watch over all of us, when it
can't even properly watch over itself?
Like what you're reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of the The American Spark
e-newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be
delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!
By Cliff Montgomery - Jan. 17th, 2008
Government auditors have discovered yet more ways in which the Bush Defense Department (DoD)
mishandles our taxpayer dollars. The mistakes this time were found with Pentagon purchases made through
the Veterans Affairs Department (VA) in fiscal 2006, which "were either hastily planned or improperly
administered."
In a damning audit released in early January, the Pentagon's Inspector General (IG) revealed that both DoD
bosses and VA contracting officials failed to follow the Pentagon procurement and Federal Acquisition
Regulation rules when making buys through the VA.
The IG studied 49 purchases made by various Pentagon organizations--though principally those made by the
Air Force were reviewed--and found that only three procurements had been properly made.
"Specifically, DoD organizations lacked acquisition planning to determine the best source, proper statutory
authority and required agreements for non-DoD contracts," stated the audit.
The DoD and VA also showed major problems with their "contract administration, including [their] surveillance
of contractor performance, assignment of contracting officer representatives, preparation of quality assurance
surveillance plans, and collection and recording of contractor past performance," the study added.
And the Pentagon IG had a few extra words for those heading the VA. The IG discovered that of 24
procurements personally overseen by VA contracting officials, two-thirds were improperly awarded--and over
half failed to have the necessary documentation or other evidence verifying that the negotiated prices were
even reasonable.
VA contracting officials also could not explain to the IG why they failed to allow any competition for eight of 11
sole-source purchases examined.
"As a result, DoD organizations had no assurance that the purchases were based on best value or that the
VA used effective and efficient acquisition procedures," the IG declared.
The IG study concluded that the Pentagon should begin a procurement training course for its officials, and
should create more comprehensive policies to help ensure a proper management and use of inter-agency
contracts--and of taxpayer money.
Perhaps knowing when he's beaten, Defense procurement and acquisition policy Director Shay Assad stated
in a written response that the Defense Acquisition University has begun a study of all materials concerned with
inter-agency contracting procedures, and hopes to provide a course on the matter beginning in February.
Assad also promised other things, including that his office shall establish a policy which actually bars these
abuses of non-Defense contracting procedures, and that he will work to create a better policy with VA officials
"that will address roles and responsibilities regarding contracting administration and surveillance duties."
All of this forces a simple question: How can the Bush Administration--with its constant emphasis on its
Defense and intelligence departments--claim to have the ability to protect and watch over all of us, when it
can't even properly watch over itself?
Like what you're reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of the The American Spark
e-newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be
delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!