An IG said the agency has not fully implemented recommendations it agreed to in response to an early-2023 IG report. Image: DCStockPhotography/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffThe GSA still needs to tighten its controls over performance-based service contracts to “reduce the risk of unsatisfactory contractor performance and wasted funds,” an inspector general report has said.
The report said the agency has not fully implemented recommendations it agreed to in response to an early-2023 IG report finding that contracting personnel were not always establishing or enforcing a quality assurance surveillance plan to ensure that contractors are meeting performance requirements; that they were not preparing justified or timely performance reports; and that they were not complying with an internal policy intended to improve contract administration.
The report said for example that among the recommendations GSA agreed to was to ensure contracting personnel have clear, descriptive instruction on how to monitor and enforce QASPs. The agency pointed to an “acquisition alert” that points them to an online overview and provides tips related to performance-based acquisitions.
However, that information was available at the time of the original audit and does not “provide specific instruction on how to monitor and enforce QASPs. Additionally, many of these links were defective or navigated to a generic webpage instead of a direct, specific resource on how to monitor and enforce a QASP,” the report said.
And in response to a recommendation to ensure contracting personnel comply with policies and procedures, the GSA pointed to an internal data dashboard for tracking contracting officers’ performance plans. But the IG said that “while informative,” that “falls short of the requirement to provide additional guidance through policy as agreed to in the corrective action plan.”
The GSA disagreed with the first of the newest findings while providing additional information regarding the second. The IG in turn said it stands by its findings and that it incorporated that information into its latest report.
Key Bills Advancing, but No Path to Avoid Shutdown Apparent
TSP Adds Detail to Upcoming Roth Conversion Feature
White House to Issue Rules on RIF, Disciplinary Policy Changes
DoD Announces Civilian Volunteer Detail in Support of Immigration Enforcement
See also,
How Do Age and Years of Service Impact My Federal Retirement
The Best Ages for Federal Employees to Retire
How to Challenge a Federal Reduction in Force (RIF) in 2025
Should I be Shooting for a $1M TSP Balance? Depends…
