DOD's Beef Procurement Program Still Needs Improvement

Gao ID: PLRD-82-32 February 17, 1982

GAO conducted a review to assess the adequacy of the changes and improvements made to correct previously identified problems in Department of Defense (DOD) procedures and practices for purchasing beef.

Although DOD has taken some corrective actions, further improvements are still needed. DOD changes have not resulted in increasing the number of beef suppliers in the program; rather, the number of DOD beef suppliers has decreased substantially. Among the major factors identified as problems were a lack of long term contracts, rigid and complex specification requirements, the cost of quality assurance inspections, and late payment for products delivered. Attempts to use Department of Agriculture meat graders instead of DOD in-plant inspectors are difficult because differences remain in the quality acceptance methods and practices of the two departments. These discrepancies have caused confusion among Federal inspectors and beef purveyors and have resulted in increased costs to the Government.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

Director: Robert M. Gilroy Team: General Accounting Office: Procurement, Logistics, and Readiness Division Phone: (202) 275-4268


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