DHS Contracts Awarded Through Other Than Full and Open Competition During Fiscal Year 2012

The Department obligated about $389 million for noncompetitive contracts during fiscal year 2012. Our review of 40 contract files with a reported value of more than $174 million showed that, compared with previous reviews of noncompetitive contracts awarded during fiscal years 2008 through 2011, the Department continued to improve its management oversight of acquisition personnel’s compliance with policies and procedures. However, these personnel did not always document their consideration of vendors’ past performance when researching background on eligible contractors. As a result, the Department cannot be assured that acquisition personnel always awarded government contracts to eligible and qualified vendors as required.