Review of Contract for Air Force Consolidated Space Operations Center

In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed an Army Corps of Engineers construction contract to determine: (1) what percentage of the steel detailing work involved in the contract was performed in South Korea; and (2) whether regulations governing contracting procedures for government projects prohibit steel detailing and the supply and fabrication of steel from foreign firms.

GAO found that close to 100 percent of the detailing work was performed by a Korean subcontractor. However, although the use of domestic construction material is required under the Buy American Act, the act does not require that steel detailing be performed in the United States. Steel detailing entails the preparation of shop drawings based on architectural plans and specifications and, as such, is a service which is not subject to the Buy American Act. The Corps of Engineers took steps to ensure that the contractor complied with the Buy American Act requirements of the contract. All of the delivered steel was stamped with the markings of U.S. steel mills and complied with American Society for Testing Materials standards.