Objective:
We determined whether DoD effectively maintained facilities at King Abdullah II Special Operations
Training Center (KASOTC).
Finding:
U.S. Army Central (ARCENT) and U.S. Army Contracting Command–Rock Island (ACC–RI)
officials did not effectively maintain facilities at KASOTC. Specifically,
- The contractor did not install fire extinguishers and smoke detectors in the Combined Operations and Information Center latrines in accordance with the contract because the contracting officer’s representative did not effectively monitor the contractor’s performance;
- Mold/mildew accumulated within the showers at four lodging facilities because ACC–RI and ARCENT officials did not include a requirement in the contract to prevent and remove mold/mildew;
- ACC–RI officials did not incorporate the clause for safety of facilities, infrastructure, and equipment for military operations into the contract because ACC–RI officials mistakenly omitted the clause from the contract;
- The procedures for conducting heating, ventilation, and air conditioning repair and replacement for the Combined Operations and Information Center and the dining facility were ineffective because ARCENT and ACC–RI officials did not develop appropriate requirements in the contract for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning repair and replacement times;
- ARCENT officials could not verify that the contractor completed facility repairs in accordance with contract requirements because ARCENT officials did not create a reliable process to track repairs; and
- ACC–RI and ARCENT officials did not verify that KASOTC facilities received periodic maintenance in accordance with the contract because ACC–RI and ARCENT officials were not effectively overseeing the contractor’s performance.
As a result, U.S. military personnel at KASOTC may be at risk of illness, injury, or death. Also, DoD may
not be getting the best value for its money for the base operations services. We informed the Director,
U.S. Central Command Forward–Jordan of our health and safety concerns on August 28, 2015, and the
Director took immediate action to have the facilities inspected.
Recommendations:
Among other recommendations, we recommend that the Commanding General, ARCENT, ensure the contractor is completing facility repairs and periodic maintenance in accordance with the contract. Also, we recommend that the Executive Director, ACC–RI, in coordination with the Commanding General, ARCENT, review and modify the basic life support services contract, as necessary, to resolve the problems identified in this report.
Management Comments and Our Response:
The Chief, G4 Plans, ARCENT, responding for the Commanding General, ARCENT; and the Executive Director, ACC–RI, addressed all specifics of the recommendations, and no further comments are required.
This report is a result of Project No. D2015-D000CJ-0208.000.