Security Assistance: Need for Improved Reporting on Excess Defense Article Transfers
NSIAD-94-27
Published: Jan 18, 1994. Publicly Released: Jan 18, 1994.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Defense's (DOD) implementation of the excess defense articles (EDA) program, focusing on: (1) the scope and size of the EDA program; (2) the types of EDA transferred; (3) the EDA congressional reporting process; (4) the accuracy of EDA pricing and valuing procedures; and (5) EDA program management.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Director, DSAA, to begin including the acquisition and current values of EDA grant transfers in the prior fiscal year in the Congressional Presentation Document (CPD) since grants constitute over 80 percent of all EDA transfers. This will provide COngress with relevant and needed information on this form of supplementary military assistance. |
The information on EDA grant transfers was included in the FY 1995 Congressional Presentation for Promoting Peace, which was delivered to Congress in March 1994.
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| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Director, DSAA, to maintain data on the types and values of EDA made available under both leasing and drawdown authorities and that this information be included in the CPD. |
Although information on leases and drawdowns implemented during FY 1993 was included in the FY 1995 Congressional Presentation for Promoting Peace, the information does not designate whether or not excess defense articles were provided under lease or drawdown authorities.
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| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the military services to provide DSAA timely and consistent information on EDA transfers. |
The Defense Security Assistance Agency (DSAA) met with service representatives to ensure that databases contain accurate and valid data. DSAA and Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service officials designed special software to meet the reporting requirements. The new procedures are documented.
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| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the military services to adhere to DOD pricing and valuing directives so that the data management system DSAA recently implemented contains accurate and reliable information on the EDA program. |
The military services have taken steps to ensure that their action officers are aware of the correct procedures for pricing excess defense articles and to make sure that exceptions to the pricing guidance were obtained from the Office of the DOD Comptroller when required. DSAA officials also held meetings with service representatives to reinforce the guidance. Specifically, the Air Force has taken steps to ensure compliance. It has established an internal management control and a routine training seminar.
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| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the military services to ensure that they comply with relevant departmental directives and guidelines for properly identifying EDA. |
While guidance on material management and property categorization distributed by the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology was reemphasized and discussed with military service representatives, DOD emphasizes that the final decision on declaring an item excess to service requirements is a force structure decision and therefore the final analysis is to be made by the military department concerned. As such, there is no guarantee that the military services will always properly identify items as excess defense articles.
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Topics
AppraisalsCongressional oversightForeign military assistanceForeign military salesMilitary materielPrices and pricingProgram managementProperty disposalReporting requirementsSurplus federal property