Public Housing
Consolidated Supply Contracts for Commercial Trash Compactors Gao ID: RCED-87-158 July 23, 1987In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) award of consolidated supply contracts for commercial trash compactors for public housing agencies.
GAO found that: (1) the contractors furnished compactors that did not meet HUD specification requirements; (2) HUD did not investigate allegations of noncompliance with its specification requirements; (3) although HUD later discovered that the compactors did not meet its requirements, it requested corrections to safety-related items only; and (4) the HUD specifications were inconsistent and ambiguous. GAO noted that, if HUD decides to enter into a new consolidated contract, it should carefully review the procurement specifications and contract requirements before publishing them.