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VA National Contracting System Found Wanting In OIG Report

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) utilizes an electronic contract management system, which, according to the VA's Office of Inspector General (OIG) is "inadequate," according to a recent report in Federal Computer Week. The result of the poor system is deficient oversight over the entire system, and depending on the situation, could negatively impact veterans with disabilities and their claims.

The OIG audit reviewed the VA's National Acquisition Center (NAC), which relies on the Electronic Contract Management System (eCMS) to manage and track VA contract information. Over the 6 months between Oct. 1, 2009 and April 5, 2010, the NAC's National Contract Service managed more than $4 billion in acquisition contracts. Impressive as that is, the OIG still found the eCMS to be "underused and inadequate for oversight."

The OIG's findings centered on the operation methods of the VA's Office of Acquisition and Logistics (OAL). Investigators found the OAL failed to guarantee the eCMS was able to properly support NAC's operations. Essentially, the eCMS is incapable of not only managing, but providing contract information for the NAC as well as its customers.

Because it does not work as it should, the eCMS requires a supplemental second system to exist. This second system, however, is duplicating much of the work the eCMS does, which results in "an inefficient use of time and resources." Missing or incomplete information on eCMS-generated reports makes those reports unreliable.

The OIG's final report included suggestions the VA could implement to make the eCMS more reliable and efficient. The VA accepted the recommendations and plans to employ the corrective procedures by September 2012.

If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veterans disability rights firm today - 1-888-234-5758.