How can the Bush Administration rightly claim to watch over all of us, when it can’t even properly watch over itself? Pentagon Allows Poor Contracting Procedures To FlourishBy Cliff Montgomery – Jan. 17th, 2008Government 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 thee-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!
How Necessary Laws Are Killed These Days
Lawmakers generally only fight to protect the things they care about – and all too often, that just doesn’t include the lives of most of their constituents.
