Watchdog: GSA isn't clearing all contactors for work on telecom transition

According to an oversight memo, the General Services Administration didn't complete required background checks on all contractors working on transition duties for the $50 billion Enterprise Infrastructure Systems contract.

According to the June 29 memo, the GSA's inspector general found that the group supporting the move to EIS allowed contractors to do support work on the Transition Ordering Assistance task order without completing required security clearances.

The transition task orders help agencies plan their move to EIS with consulting help for the complex changes that may be needed.

In one instance, a contract employee who worked on the EIS task order for the Federal Acquisition Service for several months without a GSA badge or email address was later found to be "intentionally withholding the background investigation paperwork for personal reasons."

The IG said the initial discovery of two security deficiencies led to the finding of more than a dozen instances of contractors working on the task orders prior to getting favorable interim determinations between April 2017 and January 2018. FAS spent more than $675,000 for work by contract employees who did not meet the background investigation provisions of the task order, according to the IG report, possibly putting networks and systems in jeopardy.

"We are concerned that FAS is relying solely on the…contractor to ensure compliance instead of independently verifying that contract employees have received favorable interim determinations," the report states.The IG called for GSA to implement tighter management controls to make sure background check requirements are met.

GSA generally agreed with the IG's report and recommendations, but explained that officials had taken concrete steps, such as instituting monthly invoice meetings with contractors that include a review of the background investigation status of contract employees.