Davis peers at DHS acquisitions

Rep. Tom Davis, chairman of the House Government Reform Committee, wants to know how the Homeland Security Department is building and managing its acquisition operations.

Davis sent a letter Wednesday to DHS Secretary Tom Ridge seeking information about the department's plan to "develop an integrated acquisition organization that eliminates duplication stemming from the merger of so many different agencies."

The letter follows one sent by Davis last week asking for information on improvements needed for the contracting processes at the former Immigration and Naturalization Service that is now part of the new department.

In the latest letter, Davis is seeking answers about how the department is pulling together its acquisition strategy.

"The committee is interested in learning about efforts to eliminate stovepipe acquisition systems and create an integrated program. We are also interested in learning how the department is planning to organize and train its acquisition workforce, and how it is managing and planning for its major procurement programs," Davis said in his letter.

The department is facing a significant challenge in coordinating an acquisition strategy. A number of major acquisition projects were already underway before the department was officially launched.

DHS officials had no immediate comment on the request.