ICE Should Improve Controls Over Its Transportation Services Contracts

Submitting OIG:

Report Description:

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) did not fully comply with Federal and departmental guidance for monitoring and overseeing transportation contracts. Specifically, ICE did not always appoint contracting officer’s representatives (COR) according to policy.

Date Issued:

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Agency Reviewed / Investigated:

Department of Homeland Security

Submitting OIG-Specific Report Number:

OIG-23-59

Component, if applicable:

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Location(s):

Agency-Wide

Type of Report:

Audit

Questioned Costs:

Funds for Better Use:

Number of Recommendations:

Report updated under NDAA 5274:

Additional Details Link:

https://www.oig.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/assets/2023-09/OIG-23-59-Sep23.pdf

Recommendation Number	Recommendation Status	Significant Recommendation
1	Open	No
We recommend the Executive Associate Director for Management and Administration ensure ICE appoints appropriately certified CORs to oversee high-risk transportation services contracts.
2	Open	No
We recommend the Executive Associate Director for Management and Administration ensure COs issue COR appointment letters to CORs who do not have them and reissue outdated COR appointment letters.
3	Open	No
We recommend the Executive Associate Director for Management and Administration develop and implement procedures to ensure contracting staff issue COR appointment letters and maintain them in contract files.
4	Open	No
We recommend the Executive Associate Director for Enforcement and Removal Operations develop and implement guidance to ensure that Enforcement and Removal Operations develops QASPs for contracts that include specific methods for monitoring contractor compliance with contract terms and develop procedures to ensure CORs use the QASPs as part of their oversight activities.
5	Open	No
We recommend the Executive Associate Director for Enforcement and Removal Operations evaluate the workload for CORs and determine if sufficient resources are allocated to adequately oversee contracts and, based on the evaluation, develop, and implement a plan to more effectively manage or obtain additional personnel resources.
5	Open	No
We recommend the Executive Associate Director for Management and Administration recover any monies, including the $408,875 identified in this report, determined to have been paid toward inaccurate charges or costs not supported by documentation.
6	Open	No
We recommend the Executive Associate Director for Management and Administration recover any monies, including the $408,875 identified in this report, determined to have been paid toward inaccurate charges or costs not supported by documentation.
7	Open	No
We recommend the Executive Associate Directors for Enforcement and Removal Operations and Management and Administration determine the reasonableness of the amount and frequency of standby bus charges.

Recommendation Number

Recommendation Status

Significant Recommendation

Additional Details

Open

We recommend the Executive Associate Director for Management and Administration ensure ICE appoints appropriately certified CORs to oversee high-risk transportation services contracts.

Open

We recommend the Executive Associate Director for Management and Administration ensure COs issue COR appointment letters to CORs who do not have them and reissue outdated COR appointment letters.

Open

We recommend the Executive Associate Director for Management and Administration develop and implement procedures to ensure contracting staff issue COR appointment letters and maintain them in contract files.

Open

We recommend the Executive Associate Director for Enforcement and Removal Operations develop and implement guidance to ensure that Enforcement and Removal Operations develops QASPs for contracts that include specific methods for monitoring contractor compliance with contract terms and develop procedures to ensure CORs use the QASPs as part of their oversight activities.