Southern Border Initiative

We conducted an audit of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s control of its Secure Border Initiative technology program. Our objective was to determine whether the program office has implemented adequate controls to ensure that cost overruns are avoided and established milestones are met. To accomplish this objective, we reviewed four task orders for the program in fiscal year 2008, totaling approximately $267 million. Customs and Border Protection needs to improve its control of contractor activities on the Secure Border Initiative technology program. Specifically, program officials did not ensure that contractors maintain up-to-date information in the primary management tool designed to provide managers with advance information regarding potential cost overruns and program progress.