Survey of Procurement System Operated at Scott Air Force Base

Local procurement by the 375th Aeromedical Airlift Wing at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois totaled $58.2 million in fiscal year 1978. Of that amount, approximately 69 percent was awarded noncompetitively. The base was included in an evaluation survey of base level procurement activities and controls.

Work requirements on a $213,000 renovation contract did not clearly define the scope of work to be accomplished. Some of the painting workmanship was inferior and daily inspection reports did not provide evidence as to the adequacy and completeness of the work. Examination of urgent procurements showed that high priority purchase requisitions were issued for items that did not appear to be mission essential. Excessive urgent requirements do not allow sufficient time to obtain competition and could result in higher prices and other potential abuse. Deficiencies in the Wing's procurement process should be corrected by making contract specifications and requirements specific to assure that there is no question as to the scope of work, and clearly defining work requirements to provide a better basis for inspectors to prepare more meaningful inspection reports. Assignment of priorities to purchase requests should be closely monitored and high priority requests kept under close management scrutiny until abuses of the priority system are corrected.