The Defense Department’s contract audit follow-up records contained inaccurate data in as many as 100 of 1,000 data fields sampled, the Pentagon’s Office of Inspector General found in a new report.
In 50 of the Defense Contract Audit Agency’s contract follow-up records tested by the watchdog, 41 (82 percent) had errors in one or more data fields, said the report.
Data errors in contract follow-up records “adversely impact DOD management’s ability to rely on CAFU (contract audit follow-up) as a tool for tracking contracting officer actions on DCAA audit reports,” the report said. The frequency of such errors demonstrates the need for both DCAA and the Defense Contract Management Agency to “improve related procedures and internal controls.”
Defense financial components use contract follow-up records to track and manage the actions of contracting officers in response to DCAA audit reports that, in fiscal 2014 alone, resulted in $10.7 billion in questioned costs in proposals from Pentagon contractors. The accuracy of the follow-up reports “is important to ensure reported DCAA audit findings are resolved timely and appropriately, and to correctly report the status of actions taken on the reported findings to Congress,” the IG wrote.
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