Audit of Department of State Efforts To Identify and Terminate Unneeded Contracts Related to Afghanistan

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, in coordination with the Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services, develop and implement a process that can be used in response to an emergency situation at an overseas post to identify contracts that require termination or other contract administration actions.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration develop and implement an effective tool to track the status of contracts from termination through closeout. At a minimum, the tool should identify the steps remaining to be completed in the termination and closeout process, including identifying overdue steps, and the time elapsed between key steps.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration conduct a survey among Contracting Officers and Contracting Officer's Representatives to identify issues related to the use of the mandated eFiling module and suggested improvements to the module, specifically pertaining to maintaining contract administration documentation.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration update the Foreign Affairs Manual, Foreign Affairs Handbook, and supplemental procurement guidance to assist and support Contracting Officers in conducting contract terminations. At a minimum, the policies and procedures should include guidance detailing the contents of termination dockets, such as the type and extent of documentation to maintain; expected timelines for adding documents; and standardized methods for organizing and naming documents. The policy and procedures should also include helpful tools, such as a checklist of documents that are required to be maintained in the termination docket and a post-termination conference meeting template.

Following implementation of Recommendations 7 and 8, OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration develop a communication strategy and disseminate to procurement personnel the updates to policy, procedures, and training related to contract terminations to ensure awareness of contract termination process requirements, including documentation requirements.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, within 45 days of issuance of this report, develop and implement a plan of action to address the expired contracts related to Afghanistan that remain open.