Contract Oversight for Redistribution Property Assistance Team Operations in Afghanistan Needs Improvement
Abstract
Our objective was to determine whether DoD was providing effective contract oversight at the Redistribution Property Assistance Team (RPAT) sites in Afghanistan. This audit is one in a series of audits on RPATs in Afghanistan. Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) and 401st Army Field Support Brigade (AFSB) officials did not provide effective contract oversight at the RPAT yards in Afghanistan. Specifically, DCMA and 401st AFSB officials who performed oversight of the wholesale RPAT contract did not agree on whether the contractor, AC First, performed contract services in accordance with performance work statement (PWS) requirements. The services included tasks to maintain property accountability and asset visibility, notify DoD of property losses, and conduct causative research on known property losses. This occurred because the Army Sustainment Command modified an existing PWS to include retrograde activities but did not clearly define roles and responsibilities, which resulted in conflicting interpretations of the contractor s requirements. In addition, 401st AFSB personnel did not follow applicable Army regulations to initiate property loss investigations. For example, in February 2014, AC First could not account for more than 400 pieces of nonrolling stock equipment including three drone systems, while 401st AFSB personnel did not report the property loss for almost 11 months. This occurred because 401st AFSB officials used their resources to search for missing equipment rather than identify and initiate a timely property loss investigation. As a result of these contract oversight challenges, throughout 2014 DoD could not account for at least $26.5 million in property at the RPATs in Afghanistan, including sensitive items. Furthermore, DCMA and 401st AFSB officials could not provide assurance that the property would be recovered or that the losses would not continue until the property losses are identified, notified, and investigated timely.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 18, 2015
- Accession Number
- ADA621510
Entities
Organizations
- Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Defense