GAO issues recommendations for Department of Veterans Affairs supply chain modernization

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) a series of recommendations
regarding modernizing its supply chain and preparing for future public health emergencies.

The GAO indicated its study stemmed from the VA encountering issues acquiring medical supplies, such as personal protective equipment, during the COVID-19 pandemic’s early stages.

Per the GAO, the VA has varied initiatives underway as a means of modernizing its supply chain, but each is delayed and in the early planning stages.

The GAO indicated it was asked to assess the VA’s acquisition management during its COVID-19 pandemic response, adding the report examines the VA’s efforts to obtain and track COVID-19-related products and services amid the struggle to improve inventory and supply chain management.

With regard to its assessment process, the GAO noted the work involved reviewing federal procurement data, analyzing selected VA contract documents, reviewing selected interagency agreements, assessing VA documents on modernization and other initiatives, and interviewing VA officials and staff.

Since 2015, the GAO has issued 49 recommendations as a means of improving VA acquisition management. The VA agreed with the recommendations and has implemented 22 of them.

In March 2021, the GAO said it recommended the VA develop a comprehensive supply chain management strategy outlining how its supply chain initiatives relate to each other. Per the GAO, the VA concurred with the guidance offered.