In response to previous criticism, DHS has taken steps to improve oversight of major acquisition programs—which cost some $10 billion in 2014–but it still lacks written guidance for a consistent approach to day-to-day oversight, GAO has reported.
It said DHS partially complies with requirements under the federal Standards for Internal Control by defining the role of component acquisition executive within each component and by establishing monthly meetings to discuss programs that require management attention. However, the department has not defined the responsibilities for the lead body responsible for overseeing the acquisition process and assessing the status of acquisition programs and does not have a structure in place for overseeing the costs of 42 programs that are underway, it said.
The report also questioned the accuracy of some cost data presented to Congress, saying it was out of date, in part to “inconsistent participation by program officials responsible for entering the data.”
