The IG pointed to laws and executive orders prohibiting the use of video surveillance equipment from the People’s Republic of China. Image: marekuliasz/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffIn an alert memorandum that serves as a reminder and warning to other agencies as well, the GSA has been urged to give “immediate attention” to overflights of a facility by a drone made by a prohibited company.
The GSA inspector general’s office said that during a review of Public Buildings Service projects funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, it discovered that a contractor “has frequently taken aerial photographs to document construction progress” at a land port of entry in San Luis, Ariz. While the contract calls for the company to regularly photograph the project from different points of view to document its work, the drone is “manufactured by a company that the DoD has identified as a potential national security threat,” it said.
It pointed to laws and executive orders prohibiting the use of video surveillance equipment from the People’s Republic of China; advising agencies against purchasing and using drones manufactured in certain countries; and requiring that “unmanned aircraft systems”—of which drones are one—must not be manufactured in whole or in part in certain countries.
In addition to the designation by DoD, the Commerce Department has designated the manufacturer as a national security concern, it said, but “nonetheless, PBS Region 9 has not taken any steps to ensure the drone being used by its construction contractor is from an approved source.”
It recommended that the PBS take that action and also “steps to ensure that contractors for all active and future PBS construction projects comply with applicable security requirements covering the use of drones.” Because the report was an alert, there was no management response.
The IG noted that it made a similar finding and recommendation last year regarding a construction project in New York State.
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