Davis keeps up offensive against TCE procurement

No fan of the Treasury Department's standalone telecommunications initiative, Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) urged the Office of Management and Budget to ensure that the department follows recommendations in a recent report, including a suggestion that the agency consider canceling the solicitation.

Davis, chairman of the House Government Reform Committee, asked OMB director Joshua Bolten to ensure Treasury follows the recommendations of a new inspector general report concluding that the Treasury Communications Enterprise procurement process has been flawed.

"In your role of promoting and improving the acquisition and use of information technology to improve the productivity, efficiency and effectiveness of federal programs, I urge you to work with the Department of Treasury to ensure that the recommendations in the IG report are carefully considered," Davis wrote in a letter dated Feb. 16.

The IG said in a recent report that TCE?a 10-year, $1 billion contract for Treasury's telecommunications services?was poorly conceived and has been disorganized from the start, resulting in missed deadlines and increased costs. The IG recommended that Treasury consider all options, including scrapping the program, before it awards the contract later this year.

Davis also sent a letter to Treasury secretary John Snow, encouraging him to keep the House committee informed as the agency responds to the IG report.

"I trust that Treasury will carefully consider the recommendations in the IG report," Davis wrote. "I would appreciate it if you would advise me as soon as possible of the actions that you intend to take in response to the report."

A Treasury department spokeswoman said the agency is reviewing the letter and could not comment on it, but reiterated that Treasury "appreciates the IG's findings and [is] taking appropriate corrective actions to address their recommendations."

OMB did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment.

Davis has been critical of TCE from the start, believing the agency should pursue governmentwide telecommunications contracts offered by the General Services Administration, and earlier this week said he would hold a hearing into the acquisition.

Rob Thormeyer is a staff writer for Washington Technology's sister publication, Government Computer News.