Democrats discuss potential obstacles to oversight of Iraq contracts

A Senate Democrat on Friday expressed concern that the contracting out of a central database containing information on government purchases could impair lawmakers' ability to oversee defense contracts, including those awarded for Iraq reconstruction projects.

The General Services Administration's decision to turn development and maintenance of the Federal Procurement Data System - Next Generation, a repository of data on contracts awarded by federal agencies, over to Global Computer Enterprises, a technology services company based in Reston, Va., is worrisome, said Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa. Congress needs access to raw procurement data to fulfill oversight duties, he said at a Senate Democratic Policy Committee hearing.

Harkin said he is concerned that with a contractor controlling the database, lawmakers may find themselves unable to get information they need to ensure that agencies use the procurement system properly. Unfettered access to FPDS-NG is especially critical as lawmakers look into potential contracting abuses in Iraq reconstruction work and review Defense Department budget requests, he said.

But a GSA spokeswoman said that Harkin and other lawmakers need not worry. Despite Global Computer Enterprises' new role in maintaining the procurement data, congressional offices will still enjoy free access to all information stored in FPDS-NG, she said. That includes raw data.

The contracting out of the database has caused concern off Capitol Hill as well. Steven Schooner, a George Washington University professor specializing in procurement law, said at the Friday hearing that the decision could have serious implications. The contractor's involvement puts the transparency of the data at risk, he told lawmakers.

GSA has pledged that the information on government purchases will remain available to the public at minimal cost. Citizens can submit a query and view reports derived from the database for free, and can pay a one-time connection fee of $2,500 to view the raw data, GSA announced.

In addition, GSA officials have said they will exercise careful oversight of Global Computer Enterprises to ensure the continued integrity of the database.

Harkin raised his concerns about FPDS-NG at a hearing convened to discuss alleged mismanagement of Iraq reconstruction contracts. The Democratic committee decided to question witnesses including a former Bechtel contract negotiator, a former Kellogg, Brown and Root employee, and several procurement experts, after Republican colleagues declined requests for a hearing.

Witnesses focused on alleged problems in defense contracting, including Halliburton's reported failure to justify more than $1.8 billion in expenses for work in Iraq and Kuwait. The Democrats at the hearing expressed concern that colleagues' efforts to oversee reconstruction contracts haven't been aggressive enough.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., said he has tried without success to convince other members of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee to hold a hearing. The committee leadership feels such a hearing would be "duplicative," he said.

"But we've spent our time on examining diploma mills," Lautenberg added.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, the committee chair, is concerned about contract oversight and is keeping an eye on various audits and investigations under way, said spokeswoman Elissa Davidson. She noted that Collins will be interested in the findings of the Department of Defense Inspector General, Defense Contract Audit Agency, Government Accountability Office, Coalition Provisional Authority Inspector General, U.S. Army Audit Agency and the Justice Department.

The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee is "correctly focused on reforming our nation's intelligence agencies, a serious undertaking that is critical to improving our ability to detect, deter, and respond to terrorism," Davidson added.