New GAO Reports – Contingency Contracting for State and USAID, and Managing for Results

CONTINGENCY CONTRACTING: State and USAID Made Progress Assessing and Implementing Changes, but Further Actions Needed, GAO-14-229: Published: Feb 14, 2014. Publicly Released: Feb 14, 2014: “For more than a decade, State and USAID have used contractors extensively to help carry out missions in contingency operations, such as those in Iraq and Afghanistan. While State and USAID transition to more traditional diplomatic and assistance missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, contract management and oversight challenges remain significant because the agencies are likely to be called upon again to operate in future contingencies.”
MANAGING FOR RESULTS: Implementation Approaches Used to Enhance Collaboration in Interagency Groups, GAO-14-220: Published: Feb 14, 2014. Publicly Released: Feb 14, 2014: “The interagency groups GAO selected and expert practitioners—including those who received the Presidential Distinguished Rank Award—have used a range of approaches to address some of the key considerations for implementing interagency collaborative mechanisms, related to defining outcomes; measuring performance and ensuring accountability; establishing leadership approaches; and using resources, such as funding, staff, and technology.”