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Return to Article: GAO: Homeland Security lacks adequate workforce for performance-based acquisitions

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  I disagree with Ms. Moore on this one. We don't need retired procurement folks to train DHS employees. We don't need more procurement folks. What DHS needs is procurement rules that make sense, rather than being put into place to meet some arbitrary political goal DHS needs procurement people who want to do THEIR jobs, rather than trying to run the program office (again this is not all of them). DHS needs the ability to partner with GOOD contractors and to kick bad ones to the curb, regardless of whether they are some protected group or not. Too often the reverse is true.

  DHS also needs to ditch the legacy INS procurement systems. If INS was worth a hoot it wouldn't have been disbanded, now would it?

  concerned citizen Posted May 14, 2008 8:14 AM
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  I agree that Homeland Security appears to lack adequate acquisition experience to execute and administer the contracts. Doing business in the manner that has been reported is expensive, costly for the taxpayers, and could be avoided, My suggestion would be to set up a team of experienced retired acquisition personnel that could lead and train the existing workforce.

  Sophie C. Moore Posted May 13, 2008 10:30 AM
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  When we waste billions on the redundant infrastructure in the DOD, the last thing we need is another procurement chain. Let DHS use the Services for its research, procurement and whatever other functions. The performance metric should start with effectiveness for the tax payer.

  M Onger Posted May 12, 2008 3:57 PM
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  Wonders, DHS cannot handle performance based acquisition on the same level as they planned unpoplar unfair faulty NSPS? No surprise here.

  Civilian Worker Posted May 12, 2008 11:19 AM
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  I've see roads constructed under this concept and the build always comes in on time and on budget vs the typical cost overrun with the bureaucrats handling the process. The Fed govt solution is always more people more money, how about a change people doing what they are paid to do

  Dan ketter Posted May 12, 2008 10:55 AM
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  The government is understaffed in more agencies than the DHS. It has been slow to surface. That is, to get through the senior management level to the Headquarters/Congress.

  Thomas Bell Posted May 12, 2008 9:09 AM
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  Hate to point this out to Congress, but scope development is NOT an acquisition services process- it's a program office requirement.

  The contracting folks don't have the knowledge, the expertise, or the ownership of the requirement. They only handle the purchasing part of the process. Program office folks define the need, establish performance crieria, and determine acceptability. In addition, the DHS rules (particularly in ICE) are cumbersome and do nothing to speed or improve acquisitions.

  Finally, DHS doesn't need MORE procurement folks, they need more procurement folks willing to do their JOBS. Too many requirements get fobbed off onto horrible vendors (slow, expensive, and poor quality) because that's the path of least resistence for the PROCUREMENT people. I would also argue that SOME procurement folks spend way too much time trying to run the program offices. They second guess whether the program office really NEEDS the requirement, try to tell program experts that they must accept something OTHER than what they asked for, and generally drag their heels. Please note that I said SOME, not all procurement folks are like this.

  I would suggest that they would find their lives were much easier if they spent less time fighting AGAINST doing what they were asked to do and just did it.

  concerned citizen Posted May 12, 2008 7:16 AM