GAO: TSA needs better oversight of acquisition policies

GAO: TSA needs better oversight of acquisition policies    The U.S. General Accounting Office said in a report the Transportation Security Administration must do a better job at overseeing its acquisitions of goods and services.
   The watchdog agency’s report said the TSA, which is largely responsible for airport security, also “lacks internal controls to identify and address implementation issues and performance measures to determine whether acquisition policies are achieving desired results.”
   Since its inception in late 2001, the TSA has awarded more than $8.5 billion in contracts. Spending on contracts accounted for 48 percent of the agency’s fiscal year 2003 budget, the GAO report said.
   The GAO recommends that the TSA elevate its Office of Acquisitions to a higher management level within the agency, and develop better internal controls and performance measures to make the most cost-effective acquisitions.