DOD Procured Non-Intrusive Inspection Equipment: $9.48 Million Worth of Equipment Sits Unused at Borders in Afghanistan
Abstract
Improving the Afghan government's ability to sustain itself with reduced donor support has been a key priority for both the U.S. government and international donors. The collection of customs duties on goods entering Afghanistan is one of the largest revenue sources for the Afghan government, and improving the efficient and effective collection of custom duties is important to the government's long-term sustainability. By procuring and installing non-intrusive inspection (NII) equipment at Afghan borders and customs depots, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and the Border Management Task force (BMTF) hoped to improve the Afghan government's ability to reduce commercial smuggling, and increase the efficiency of the customs process and domestic revenue collection. We conducted this review to identify the amount of DOD funds spent to procure, operate, and maintain NII equipment installed at Afghan border crossings and customs depots, and to examine the extent to which that equipment is being maintained and used for its intended purpose. A response from DOD showed that, in 2006, CENTCOM procured eight pieces of NII equipment at a cost of $12.1 million. Over the course of several years, the equipment was installed at five locations across Afghanistan, and the BMTF provided assistance and training in the use of the equipment through October 2014. In order to maintain the NII equipment, CENTCOM also provided funding for contracts with Rapiscan (the equipment manufacturer) to maintain the equipment, which amounted to approximately 15-20 percent of the unit purchase price per year, or $10.8 million to $14.4 million in additional maintenance costs. CENTCOM stopped funding maintenance costs in 2014, when the BMTF ceased operations in Afghanistan and the equipment was formally turned over to the Afghan government.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 27, 2017
- Accession Number
- AD1139839
Entities
People
- John Sopko
Organizations
- Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction