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Review of Alleged Delays in VA Contractor Background Investigations

Report Information

Issue Date
Report Number
12-00165-277
VA Office
Human Resources and Administration Office/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP)
Information and Technology (OIT)
Report Author
Office of Audits and Evaluations
Report Type
Audit
Recommendations
2
Questioned Costs
$0
Better Use of Funds
$0
Congressionally Mandated
No

Summary

Summary
We evaluated the merits of a VA OIG Hotline complaint alleging VA had a backlog of contractor background investigations; was inappropriately requiring completion of contractors’ background investigations before the contractors could begin work; and was not meeting its 20-day standard for starting investigations. We substantiated all three allegations. Despite process improvements and a recent reduction in pending cases, VA had a backlog of 3,000 contractor background investigations; inappropriately prohibited contractors from working on contracts; and was not meeting it 20-day standard for starting background investigations with the Office of Personnel Management. Delays were due to ineffective VA management within VA’s Security and Investigative Center; staff misunderstanding VA’s personnel security requirements and investigative process; and the lack of a central system to monitor progress in addressing the backlog. We recommended VA implement improved policies and procedures and implement a central case management system to monitor contractor status and costs associated with the background investigation process.

Open Recommendation Image, SquareOpenClosed and Implemented Recommendation Image, CheckmarkClosed-ImplementedNot Implemented Recommendation Image, X character'Closed-Not Implemented
No. 1
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP)
We recommend that the Assistant Secretary for Operations, Security, and Preparedness implement improved policies, procedures, and practices to reduce the backlog of contractor background investigations and educate appropriate personnel on VA's personnel security requirements and contractor on-boarding processes.
No. 2
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP)
We recommend that the Assistant Secretary for Operations, Security, and Preparedness, in conjunction with the Assistant Secretary for Information Technology, implement a central case management system to automate the background investigation process and effectively monitor VA contractor status and associated contract costs during the background investigation process.