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Contract Management: Further Action Needed to Improve Veterans Affairs Acquisition Function

GAO-06-144 Published: Oct 19, 2005. Publicly Released: Oct 19, 2005.
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Highlights

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is among the largest federal acquisition agencies, spending $7.3 billion on product and service acquisitions in 2004 alone. Recent reports by VA and other organizations identified weaknesses in the agency's acquisition function that could result in excess costs to the taxpayer. One report by the Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) made 24 recommendations to improve VA's acquisition function. VA has accepted these recommendations. GAO was asked to review the progress VA has made in implementing the key NAVSUP recommendations. GAO identified 7 of the 24 recommendations as key, based primarily on its professional judgment and prior experience.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status Sort descending
Department of Veterans Affairs The Secretary of Veterans Affairs should direct the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition and Materiel Management to identify specific time frames and milestones for completing actions on the key NAVSUP recommendations.
Closed – Implemented
VA contracted with Logistics Management Institute (LMI) to develop (1) a strategic plan for fiscal 2007-2010 and (2) a balanced score card. A draft of the strategic plan and balanced score card were provided to GAO on August 28, 2006. The Strategic Plan serves as the organization's long-term improvement plan and the balanced score card is used as an ongoing tool by management to measure progress in achieving set objectives. However, VA is midway through a process to implement several major organizational changes and in doing so, they are transforming the VA Office of Acquisition and Logistics into a 21st Century organization focuses on five strategic areas: personnel, training, technology, structure and processes. In the area of personnel, VA is increasing their acquisition and engineering workforce to meet the increased contracting and construction workload. VA has opened a new Technology Acquisition Center (TAC) located in Ft. Monmouth, NJ. The TAC is comprised of experienced information technology acquisition professionals. VA anticipates regionalizing Construction Facilities and Management execution to place the expertise where the workload is located. In the area of training, in August 2008, VA opened the first acquisition academy outside of the Department of Defense to train VA acquisition professionals in three areas. The training programs include a contracting intern program, Federal Acquisition Certification in contracting and program management and training contracting officer?s technical representatives. In the area of technology, VA recently implemented an electronic contract writing system that is fully operational. VA is also deploying business intelligence tools to support decision-making and acquisition initiatives such as strategic sourcing. VA is also developing an integrated financial, contracting, and logistics system. In the areas of structure and processes, VA has made changes to its organization and acquisition models. These changes include streamlining the contracting functions, implementation of contract review boards, integrated product teams, and OMB Circular A-123 business review. Through this transformation, VA expects the deficiencies in the procurement process will be resolved. The status of the key NAVSUP recommendations:(1) Develop a Long Term Improvement Plan - Accomplished; (2) Develop Adequate Management Metrics - Accomplished; (3) Supplement Strategic Plan - Accomplished; (4) Establish Contract Review Board - Accomplished; (5) Improve Post Award Contract Management - Ongoing; (6)Improve Customer Relationships - Ongoing; and (7)Improve Employee Morale - Ongoing.
Department of Veterans Affairs The Secretary of Veterans Affairs should direct the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition and Materiel Management to establish a method to measure progress in implementing the recommendations.
Closed – Implemented
VA has enhanced its contract management systems with state-of-the-art technology in two primary areas. The first area is the contract writing system, which systematically guides contracting officers (CO) through the development of all contractual documents. COs are mandated to use this system for all contract actions over $25,000. These changes alone will significantly improve the quality of contracts and ability to track performance. The second change is with reporting capability. By adding business intelligence capability to the system, VA now has the ability to measure process efficiency, assess compliance with acquisition laws and policies, and monitor performance and take corrective action when needed, in a timely manner.

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Topics

Contract administrationFederal procurementPerformance measuresProcurement evaluationProcurement planningProcurement practicesStrategic planningVeterans affairsContract managementAcquisition