Military Contractor-Operated Stores' Contracts Are Unmanageable and Vulnerable to Abuse
MASAD-81-27
Published: Jul 08, 1981. Publicly Released: Jul 08, 1981.
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Highlights
Contractor-operated base stores, once envisioned as a practical and cost-effective means for obtaining vehicle repair parts and civil engineering supplies, are now plagued by pricing irregularities, contract abuses, and repeated allegations of fraud. GAO reviewed such contractor-operated stores to determine how well these contracts are controlled and whether they are subject to fraud and abuse. The review concentrated on evaluating Air Force contracting and management procedures developed to implement the contractor-operated store, reviewing audit reports and closed criminal investigation reports from the Air Force, and reviewing 10 out of 120 Air Force store contracts in operation.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense, if it is determined that an A-76 study is unnecessary, should direct the military services to discontinue the COPARS and COCESS contracting program with as little disruption of maintenance operations as possible. COPARS and COCESS contracts should not be renewed once they expire. Instead, the military services should establish either Government-operated automotive and civil engineering supply stores or develop other workable alternative methods of supply. |
Closed
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense, if COCESS contracts are continued, should direct that: (1) the request of proposals contain a complete material requirements list showing valid item descriptions, a local trade price, and an estimated annual requirement for each item based on the Air Force's consumption data; (2) an alternate contract proposal arrangement be used whereby offerors propose percentage discounts or premiums for supplying the listed items at the established trade prices developed by the base; (3) an adequate procedure be developed to handle changes in manufacturer's model numbers and packaging practices when these identifiers are included in material requirements lists; and (4) adequately trained contract monitoring personnel be assigned to receive goods to assure that the items delivered are the items billed, the most favorably priced items, and the item needed. |
Closed
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense, if COPARS contracts are continued, should direct that: (1) bid evaluation procedures be revised to include a satisfactory means for determining what each bidder's parts prices will be and to use this data in making the award; (2) bid evaluation procedures include a history of each bidder's performance and a complete evaluation of contractor responsibility, and DOD consider providing contracting officers with specific objective criteria by means of the Defense Acquisition Regulations to aid in determining what constitutes adequate evidence of unsatisfactory performance and integrity; (3) the solicitation contain a separate line item for research services, including complete catalogs, cross references, and industry indexes; (4) that an adequate number of full-time, trained contract personnel be assigned to order and receive goods from the store and that receiving controls assure that the item delivered is the item billed, the lowest priced item available, and the item needed; and (4) the contractor's monthly invoice be arranged so that sales by each market category are listed separately to aid the bases in estimating annual requirements by category. |
Closed
Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
|
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Topics
Contract administrationCost effectiveness analysisDefense procurementFraudPrivatizationProcurement policyProgram abusesProperty and supply managementMilitary forcesAir Force purchasing