Improvements Needed in Managing Federal Coal Mapping Contracts
EMD-81-38
Published: May 07, 1981. Publicly Released: May 07, 1981.
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Highlights
Maps, which were intended to provide a basic source of coal resource data for the Department of Interior's land use planning system, were prepared under contracts awarded and managed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Sixteen cost-plus-fixed-fee contracts were awarded for the purpose of mapping coal deposits in seven western States. A review was made of shortcomings in contract management practices which were largely responsible for the poor quality of the maps and, if not corrected, could also jeopardize other programs that rely on contracting.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of the Interior | The Secretary of the Interior should require the Director of USGS to train contracting personnel, including designated contract monitors, in contract administration prior to their appointment. |
Closed
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
|
| Department of the Interior | The Secretary of the Interior should require the Director of USGS to require personnel to organize, assemble, and manage available resource data before contracting for the same or related data in order to better gauge types of data and analyses actually needed. |
Closed
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
|
| Department of the Interior | The Secretary of the Interior should require the Director of USGS to devise specific contract provisions and other guidance to assure mutual understanding on contract requirements and to minimize reliance on oral guidance when change orders are necessary. |
Closed
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
|
| Department of the Interior | The Secretary of the Interior should require the Director of USGS to use fixed-price contracts rather than cost-plus-fixed-fee contracts whenever possible. |
Closed
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
|
| Department of the Interior | The Secretary of the Interior should require the Director of USGS to assure that sufficient efforts are made to comply with Federal Procurement Regulations in securing competition on all contracts as well as major changes to contracts to the maximum practicable extent. |
Closed
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
|
| Department of the Interior | The Secretary of the Interior should require the Director of USGS to assure that contracts are properly monitored to preclude cost overruns and to assure effective contractor performance. |
Closed
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
|
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Topics
Coal resourcesContract administrationContract costsContract oversightCost overrunsCost plus fixed fee contractsDefective solicitationsFederal procurementIrregular procurementSole source procurementMaps