GAO and IG Reports

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) publishes reports to fulfill its mission to “support the Congress in meeting its constitutional responsibilities and to help improve the performance and ensure the accountability of the federal government for the benefit of the American people.”

• Contract Management:  Extent of Federal Spending under Cost-Reimbursement Contracts Unclear and Key Controls Not Always Used.  GAO-09-921, September 2009.
• Defense Acquisitions:Perspectives on Potential Changes to Department of
  Defense Acquisition Management Framework. GAO-09-295R, February 27, 2009. 
  
• Decision: The Boeing Company, File No. B-311344;  B-311344.3; B-311344.4; B-311344.6; B-311344.7; B-311344.8; B-311344.10; B-311344.11, June 18, 2008.
• Defense Acquisitions: Results of Annual Assessment of DOD Weapon Programs, testimony of Cristina Chaplain before Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services, GAO-08-674, April 29, 2008.
• Defense Acquisitions: 2009 Review of Future Combat System is Critical to Program's Direction, testimony of Paul Francis before Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Armed Services, GAO-08-638T, April 10, 2008.
• Space Acquisitions: DOD is Making Progress to Rapidly Deliver Low Cost Space Capabilities, but Challenges Remain, GAO-08-516, April 2008.
• Space Acquisitions: Major Space programs Still at Risk for Cost and Schedule Increases, GAO-08-552T, March 2008.
• Defense Acquisitions: Assessments of Selected Weapons Programs, GAO-08-467SP, March 31, 2008.
• FEDERAL ACQUISITION Oversight Plan Needed to Help Implement Acquisition Advisory Panel Recommendations, GAO-08-160, December 2007.
• Defense Acquisitions: Department of Defense Actions on Program Manager
  Empowerment and Accountability. GAO-08-62R, November 9, 2007.
• Defense Acquisitions: (Highlights) Future Combat System Risks Underscore the Importance of Oversight, Highlights of GAO-07-672T, a testimony before the Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces, Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, March 2007.
• Defense Acquisitions: Future Combat System Risks Underscore the Importance of Oversight, Statement of Paul L. Francis, Director Acquisition and Sourcing Management, GAO-07-672T, March 27, 2007.
• Defense Services Acquisition: Questions for the Record, March 2007.
• Defense Acquisitions: Actions Needed to Get Better Results on Weapons Systems Investments, April 2006.
• DOD Wastes Billions of Dollars through Poorly Structured Incentives, Statement of David M. Walker, Comptroller General of the United States, GAO-06-409T, April 5, 2006.
• Managing the Supplier Base in the 21st Century, GAO-06-533SP, March 2006.
• Defense Acquisitions: Assessments of Selected Major Weapons Programs, GAO 06-391, March 2006.
• DOD Management Approach and Processes Not Well-Suited to Support Development of Global Information Grid, GAO-06-211, January 2006.
• DOD Has Paid Billions in Award and Incentive Fees Regardless of Acquisition Outcomes, GAO-06-66, December 2005.
• DOD Acquisition Outcomes: A Case For Change, Statement of Katherine V. Schinasi, Managing Director Acquisition and Sourcing Management, GAO-06-257T, November 15, 2005.
• Information Technology: DOD's Acquisition Policies and Guidance Need to Incorporate Additional Best Practices and Controls, GAO-04-722, July 2004.
• Defense Acquisitions: DOD Faces Challenges in Implementing Best Practices, Statement of Jack L. Brock, Jr. and Randolph C. Hite before U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, Committee on Armed Services, GAO-02-469T, February 27, 2002.
• Acquisition Reform: Obstacles to Implementing Federal Acquisition Computer Network, GAO, NSIAD-97-26, January 1997.
• Acquisition Reform: The Government's Market Research Efforts, GAO, NSIAD-97-3, October 1996.
• Defense IRM: Critical Risks Facing New Materiel Management Strategy, GAO/AIMD-96-109, September 1996.
• Defense Transportation: Migration Systems Selected Without Adequate Analysis, GAO/AIMD-96-81, August 1996.

IG Reports

The IG Reports are a series of reports on DoD purchases made through non-DoD activities. Section 811 of Public Law 109-163, “Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006,” requires for each covered non-Defense agency, the Inspector General of the Department of Defense and the Inspector General of such non-Defense agency to jointly review “procurement policies, procedures, and internal controls of such non-defense agency that are applicable to the procurement of property and services on behalf of the Department by such non-defense agency.”

Fiscal Year 2005 DoD Purchases Made through the Department of Treasury

This summary of the IG report, published on December 8, 2006, found that the DoD activities did not obtain the most cost-effective goods and services to meet valid operational requirements in compliance with laws and regulations. To view the full report, click here.

May 2007 memo from Paul A. Denett, Administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy states that "agency reviews, reviews by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and audits by the Inspectors General have found that the government frequently misses opportunities to take full advantage of competition when placing orders. Inadequate planning, insufficient market research, and poor coordination among program and acquisition offices lead to ill-defined requirements, lack of head-to-head competition for task-specific solutions and pricing, and the absence of meaningful performance standards to measure results."  Read the full memo here.