PBS contracting officers collectively awarded $4.8 billion in contracts in 2021. Image: DCStockPhotography/Shutterstock.com
The GSA has not fully carried out recommendations to improve the qualifications of its training officers that the agency’s inspector general raised in a report two years ago, says a follow-up report from the IG.
In the prior report, the IG said the training the Public Buildings Service was not providing them the specialized training necessary to perform their jobs; did not have a standardized process for qualifying and appointing them; that it lacks individual development programs for those at GS-12 and above; and that some records on contracting officers’ authority levels were missing. GSA management agreed with related recommendations.
The new report, noting that PBS contracting officers collectively awarded $4.8 billion in contracts in 2021, said that they “must possess a demonstrated understanding of federal and GSA acquisition regulations and policies. They must also possess knowledge and competencies across the broad spectrum of contracting in PBS, including contracts for construction, repairs and alterations, and operations and maintenance.”
It found, though, that for example a plan for improvements to training for those at GS-12 and above “is still in progress” and is not expected to be effective until February; that a process for evaluating and verifying the contracting experience and qualifications of warrant applicants that had been marked as completed was still underway; and that the PBS also still hasn’t completed steps to assure that less experienced contracting officers can to award contracts outside their warrant levels.
The GSA should “expedite actions” to comply with the recommendations, said the report, which did not include a management response.
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