GAO: DHS plagued by acquisition problems

A recent Government Accountability Office study shows that the Homeland Security Department is still struggling to execute its acquisition policies, with only two out of 22 major DHS programs on track for scheduling and costs, according to FCW.

One of the causes of these slip ups is a lack of project baselines. Six of the 22 programs did not have an approved baseline for schedules or costs, and without these baselines, it is hard to asses whether programs are on track, FCW quoted GAO director of acquisition and sourcing management Michele Mackin as saying.

Three factors that plague DHS acquisition policies are lack of adequate staffing for program offices, a mismatch of budgeting from what the agency expects to receive and what it actually receives, and mid-course or late changes to program requirements, FCW reported.