VA COVID-19 procurements: pandemic underscores urgent need to modernize supply chain : report to Congressional committees

VA COVID-19 procurements: pandemic underscores urgent need to modernize supply chain : report to Congressional committees

Collection:
Health Policy and Services Research
Contributor(s):
United States. Government Accountability Office. issuing body.
United States. Congress. issuing body.
Publication:
Washington, DC : United States Government Accountability Office, June 2021
Language(s):
English
Format:
Text
Subject(s):
COVID-19 -- economics
Equipment and Supplies -- supply & distribution
Government Regulation
United States
United States. Department of Veterans Affairs
Genre(s):
Technical Report
Abstract:
Why GAO did this study. In March 2020 and March 2021, Congress appropriated $19.6 billion and $17 billion in supplemental funds, respectively, for VA’s COVID-19 response effort. VA also authorized use of emergency flexibilities and automated aspects of its inventory system. In accordance with Congress’s direction in the CARES Act to monitor the exercise of authorities and use of funds provided to prepare for, respond to, and recover from the pandemic, relevant committees requested our sustained focus on VA. GAO was asked to assess VA’s acquisition management during its COVID-19 pandemic response. This report examines VA’s efforts to obtain and track COVID-19-related products and services amid its ongoing struggle to improve its inventory and supply chain management. GAO reviewed federal procurement data, analyzed selected VA contract documents, reviewed selected interagency agreements, assessed VA documents on modernization and other initiatives, and interviewed VA officials and staff. What GAO recommends. GAO has made 49 recommendations since 2015 to improve acquisition management at VA. VA agreed with those recommendations and has implemented 22 of them. In March 2021, GAO recommended, and VA concurred, that VA develop a comprehensive supply chain management strategy that, among other things, outlines how its various supply chain initiatives relate to each other.
Copyright:
The National Library of Medicine believes this item to be in the public domain. (More information)
Extent:
1 online resource (1 PDF file (iii, 46 pages))
Illustrations:
Illustrations
NLM Unique ID:
9918317484806676 (See catalog record)
Permanent Link:
http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/9918317484806676