Defense Logistics: High-Level DOD Coordination Is Needed to Further Improve the Management of the Army's LOGCAP Contract
Highlights
The Logistics Civil Augmentation Program (LOGCAP) is an Army program that plans for the use of a private-sector contractor to support worldwide contingency operations. Examples of the types of support available include laundry and bath, food service, sanitation, billeting, maintenance, and power generation. LOGCAP has been used extensively to support U.S. forces in recent operations in southwest Asia, with more than $15 billion in estimated work as of January 2005. While we issued two reports on LOGCAP since 1997 that made recommendations to improve the Army's management of the contract, broader issues on coordination of LOGCAP's contract functions were beyond the scope of our earlier work. This report assesses the extent to which the Army is taking action to improve the management and oversight of LOGCAP and whether further opportunities for using this contract effectively exist.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | To make more effective use of LOGCAP the Secretary of Defense should designate a LOGCAP coordinator with the authority to participate in deliberations and advocate for the most effective and efficient use of the LOGCAP contract. Areas where we believe this coordinator should provide oversight include (1) reviewing planning for the use of LOGCAP to ensure it is in accordance with Army doctrine and guidance, (2) evaluating the types and frequency of services to be provided, and (3) evaluating the extent to which the contract is being used economically and efficiently. |
DOD agreed with the report and its recommendations and stated that, in January 2005, a new DOD instruction designated the position of Defense Logistics Executive and established a Defense Logistics Board. DOD said that oversight of LOGCAP is within the authority and responsibility of the Defense Logistics Executive and that the Defense Logistics Board will include logistics support contracts as part of its mandate to advise the Logistics Executive on oversight of the defense logistics system and make recommendations for improvement.
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| Department of Defense | To make more effective use of LOGCAP the Secretary of Defense should direct the coordinator to advise the Secretary of unresolved differences among the DOD components on how best to use LOGCAP, and to report to the Secretary periodically regarding how effectively LOGCAP is being used. |
In a March 2005 report, GAO stated that while the Army is the executive agent for the Logistics Civil Augmentation Program (LOGCAP) contract, other DOD components also played important roles. GAO further stated that the effective and efficient use of the contract depends on the coordinated activities of each of these agencies, but no one is responsible for the overall leadership. In addition to recommending that the Secretary of Defense designate a LOGCAP coordinator, GAO recommended that the coordinator advise the Secretary periodically regarding how effectively the contract is being used. In written responses on GAO's draft report and in the response to the final report, DOD agreed with the report and its recommendations and stated that the Defense Logistics Executive, with the advice and assistance of the Defense Logistics Board, will do so.
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