Secure Agency Facilities Depend on GSA Talking with Protective Service

Because hardware and software systems have become more integrated, the agencies charged with protecting federal buildings need to better communicate their roles and responsibilities, the Government Accountability Office found.

Since 2006, the General Services Administration has had a memorandum of understanding with the Homeland Security Department’s Federal Protective Service outlining a joint strategy to communicate on facility security procedures. “While each agency has some individual policies for collaboration, the two agencies have made limited progress in agreeing on several key practices,” GAO said in a report released Friday. “Reaching agreement on these practices will help to enhance the agencies' ability to protect federal facilities and to improve day-to-day operations at the regional level.”

Interviews in several regions last year found that “it is not always clear where the responsibility lies for the purchase and maintenance of certain security countermeasures,” the audit, which noted that building security in the real property management program is one of the government’s high-risk areas. “GSA owns facility access control systems and, according to FPS officials, has objected to FPS connecting intrusion detection systems to these access control systems,” the watchdog said. “As such, officials told us that some facility access control systems have been inoperable while GSA and FPS determine which agency will do what. “

Another example of risks from poor communication is when GSA did not coordinate with FPS on security plans for coming events after new construction in a facility intended for law enforcement tenants, and as a result, the facility was not suitable for law enforcement use. GSA officials told GAO that they did not have sufficient information from FPS about security plans for upcoming events and, therefore, were not able to inform tenants of necessary security measures.

GAO recommended that both agencies improve their collaboration in several areas, including defining common outcomes, agreeing on roles and responsibilities, and communicating compatible policies and procedures.

DHS agreed completely, while GSA agreed to work with FPS to address the findings.

(Image via Flickr user Elvert Barnes / Shutterstock.com)