The Department of Veterans Affairs, which spends about $7.3
billion on products and services each year, has made limited
progress implementing key recommendations to improve its
acquisition function, the Government Accountability Office
has said.
It said one year after the Naval Supply Systems Command made
24 recommendations – which VA accepted – the agency has only
partially undertaken four of seven key actions: establishment
of a contract review board for reviewing files at key
milestones along with improvement of post-award contract
management, customer relationships, and employee morale.
The agency has not moved at all on the remaining three key
actions: developing a long-term improvement plan, adequate
management metrics, and a supplement to the agency”s strategic
plan, according to GAO-06-144.
It said VA officials cited a lack of permanent leadership in
key positions that has contributed to limited progress with
revising acquisition policies, procedures, and management
and oversight practices.
For example, two key acquisitions management positions
remained unfilled for 15 and 25 months, said GAO.
Further, it said VA has not set time frames for completing
actions on the NAVSUP recommendations or established a
method to measure progress, holding back the potential
benefits of the study.
