Procurement Practices at the Council on Environmental Quality

GAO reviewed contracts awarded by the Council on Environmental Quality. The objectives of the review were to determine: (1) the number and general history of contracts awarded during fiscal years 1979 and 1980; (2) the extent of and justification for noncompetitive contracts; (3) the managerial controls used by the Council to minimize noncompetitive awards; and (4) the improvements, if any, needed to increase competition.

GAO found that: (1) during fiscal years 1979 and 1980, 686 contract actions, valued at about $9.9 million, were processed; (2) the majority of awards were made without seeking competition; (3) contract files were not properly documented; (4) contracts were awarded by an administrative officer, rather than a trained, qualified, and experienced contracting officer; and (5) under a 1977 Presidential order, the Council's goods and services should have been procured by the Office of Administration in the Executive Office of the President.