In a closer look at 26 contracts, 14 lacked CIO approval—and that all but one of those involved non-IT offices. Image: Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffA GAO audit has found that of sone 11,600 contracts the VA issued over a recent three-year period that involved information technology, about 4,500, or about 40 percent, did not show that they had been approved by the CIO’s office.
“According to VA officials, their contracting systems lack an automated control that would remind contracting officers of CIO review and approval requirements. Without an automated check or control to ensure contracting officer compliance, it is likely that there will continue to be IT procurements that will not be routed for CIO review, particularly for non-IT contracting offices,” it said.
It said that in a closer look at 26 contracts, 14 lacked CIO approval—and that all but one of those involved non-IT offices.
“The lack of visibility into the procurement of much of VA’s IT assets and activities constrained the CIO’s opportunity to provide input on current and planned IT acquisitions. This, in turn, could result in awarding contracts that are duplicative or poorly conceived,” it said.
It said the VA agreed with a recommendation to put in place automatic controls to assure that the CIO’s office is notified of IT-related procurements in progress.
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