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 2008-02-07 monographic deposited born digital 17 p. GA 1.13:GAO-08-471T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-471T P0b002ee18037c802 f:d08471t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-471T machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-471T GAO-08-471T Accountability Conflict of interests Contract authority Contracts Foreign policies Funds management Government contracts Homeland security Internal controls Research and development Risk assessment Technology Testimony A80551 Other transaction authority was created to enhance the federal government's ability to acquire cutting-edge science and technology by attracting nontraditional contractors that have not typically pursued government contracts. The Homeland Security Act of 2002 granted the department the temporary authority to enter into other transactions for research and prototype projects for a period of 5 years. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008 extended this authority until September 30, 2008. This testimony discusses (1) the extent to which DHS has used its other transaction authority, (2) the status of DHS's implementation of GAO's previous recommendations, and (3) the accountability challenges associated with the use of these agreements. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-471T/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-471T.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-471T/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-471T.pdf GAO-08-471T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-471T Testimony GAO-08-471T; Department of Homeland Security: Status and Accountability Challenges Associated with the Use of Special DHS Acquisition Authority; Accountability Conflict of interests Contract authority Contracts Foreign policies Funds management Government contracts Homeland security Internal controls Research and development Risk assessment Technology Public Law 107-296 Public Law 110-161