Agency chief acquisition officers must establish new requirements to ensure data entered into the federal procurement data system is accurate and timely, according to a March 9 memo from OMB official Paul Denett.
Said Dennet, "whether we are measuring the level of competition, identifying the type of contract vehicle, or evaluating success against small business goals, having accurate and timely information is critical."
The memo calls on CAOs to, at a minimum, establish agency-wide requirements to have a party other than the one that awarded a contract under review, to routinely verify and validate data.
It called on CAOs to annually certify the accuracy and completeness of data to GSA — also something that will be required in an upcoming FAR case designed to clarify FPDS roles and responsibilities.
According to the memo, CAOs should also assign clear data verification responsibilities, make necessary adjustments to policies, procedures, and training, as needed, and provide the administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy verification and validation statements by December 15, 2007.
Dennet requested agency responsibility assignments and data validation-verification policies by May 16.
