For our final report on our audit of the First Responder Network Authority’s (FirstNet Authority’s) oversight of its first two reinvestment task orders (TOs), our objective was to determine whether FirstNet Authority’s process for reinvesting fee payments is effective and consistent with established practices, procedures, and regulations. We found that I. FirstNet Authority did not have sufficient performance measurements in the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan to adequately assess contractor performance for its first two reinvestment TOs; II. FirstNet Authority did not perform independent verification of contractor performance regarding deployables; III. FirstNet Authority contracting officer’s representatives relied on Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN) Program Management Office personnel that are not certified or formally appointed to conduct contract monitoring; and IV. FirstNet Authority’s Senior Management Council reviews were not conducted in a transparent manner for the NPSBN reinvestment TOs.
Open Recommendations
| Recommendation Number | Significant Recommendation | Recommended Questioned Costs | Recommended Funds for Better Use | Additional Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yes | $0 | $0 | ||
| We recommend that the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator direct FirstNet Authority's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Procurement Officer to modify the current QASP to ensure that NPSBN contract QASP items, for TOs 6 and 7, ae complete and sufficiently detailed to measure the contractor's performance regarding the quality of NPSBN services expected to be provided for the respective TOs. | |||||
| 2 | Yes | $0 | $0 | ||
| We recommend that the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator direct FirstNet Authority's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Procurement Officer to ensure the QASP is adequately updated for future reinvestment TOs and QASP items are complete and sufficiently detailed to measure the contractor's performance regarding the quality of NPSBN services expected to be provided for the TOs. | |||||
| 4 | Yes | $0 | $0 | ||
| We recommend that the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator direct FirstNet Authority's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Procurement Officer to ensure that any personnel conducting surveillance activities on the NPSBN are appointed, in writing, and complete any necessary training and certifications as required by the Commerce Acquisition Manual and/or the Federal Acquisition Regulation. | |||||
