Contract for Performing Preheat and Post-weld Heat Treatment Services

We audited the cost billed to TVA by a contractor for performing preheat and post-weld heat treatment services and found the contractor (1) had billed certain tasks at lump sum prices instead of using the time and material billing rates provided for by the contract and (2) overbilled or could not provide support for $1,350 that had been billed as time and material.We recomended TVA Supply Chain Management ensure the (1) contract documents how Procurement Agents will determine whether to use time and materials pricing or fixed prices for task assignments, and (2) Procurement Agents maintain documentation of how TVA assessed the reasonableness of the price for any work performed as fixed price. Additionally, we recommended TVA recover the $1,350 of overbilled/unsupported cost.