United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2008-04-22 monographic deposited born digital 40 p. GA 1.13:GAO-08-263 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-263 P0b002ee18038d991 f:d08263 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-263 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-263 GAO-08-263 Agency missions Contract administration Contract costs Contract oversight Contract performance Cost overruns Data integrity Federal procurement Homeland security Internal controls Knowledge, skills and abilities Performance measures Procurement Procurement law Procurement planning Procurement policy Procurement practices Quality assurance Reporting requirements Requirements definition Schedule slippages Service contracts Standards Human capital planning Performance-based contracting Other Written Product A81828 The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has relied on service acquisitions to meet its expansive mission. In fiscal year 2006, DHS spent $12.7 billion to procure services. To improve service acquisition outcomes, federal procurement law establishes a preference for a performance-based approach, which focuses on developing measurable outcomes rather than prescribing how contractors should perform services. GAO was asked to (1) evaluate the implementation of a performance-based approach in the context of service acquisitions for major, complex investments, and (2) identify management challenges that may affect DHS's successful acquisitions for major investments, including those using a performance-based approach. GAO reviewed judgmentally selected contracts for eight major investments at three DHS components totaling $1.53 billion in fiscal years 2005 and 2006; prior GAO and DHS Inspector General reviews; management documents and plans; and related data, including 138 additional contracts for basic services. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-263/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-263.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-263/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-263.pdf GAO-08-263 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-263 Other Written Product GAO-08-263; Department of Homeland Security: Better Planning and Assessment Needed to Improve Outcomes for Complex Service Acquisitions; Agency missions Contract administration Contract costs Contract oversight Contract performance Cost overruns Data integrity Federal procurement Homeland security Internal controls Knowledge, skills and abilities Performance measures Procurement Procurement law Procurement planning Procurement policy Procurement practices Quality assurance Reporting requirements Requirements definition Schedule slippages Service contracts Standards Human capital planning Performance-based contracting Public Law 106-398 Public Law 108-136 Public Law 109-163 Public Law 109-313 Public Law 110-181