By Roger Jordan
Vice President, Government Relations
Recent coverage of the Defense Contract Audit Agency’s problems, including the recent HSGAC Contracting Oversight Subcommittee hearing on February 1, has focused on how the agency has improved its audit processes through risk-based audit strategies that prioritize high-risk contracts and related actions. In testimony and recent interviews with the media, DCAA director Patrick Fitzgerald touted that the changes he’s implemented, coupled with a new contractor business systems rule, will put the agency back on track, he believes.
Admittedly, Fitzgerald has more work to do, and from an industry perspective we encourage him to look at the effect of his reforms on contractors and what further steps must be taken to improve DCAA-industry collaboration. For example, DCAA is still not effectively communicating with industry about corrective action plans contractors implement in response to DCAA audit findings deeming contractors’ systems deficient. In addition, DCAA is taking an excruciatingly long period of time to give contractors’ systems a “clean bill of health” after corrective action plans have proven effective.
Unfortunately, the Senate hearing represented a missed opportunity to focus on these issues.
