DCAA "Independence"

The Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) has revised its policy concerning "unsatisfactory conditions related to actions of Government Officials" to provide that "significant and serious" disagreements with actions by government officials, including contracting officers, will be reported directly to the Inspector General rather than to the Government official's management chain, as had been the policy in the past (Mar. 13, 2009). Prior guidance had already required direct reporting of "suspected irregularities" such as criminal violations, and this guidance appears to be intended to cover discretionary decisions that the auditors believe will "result in substantial harm to the Government or taxpayers, or that frustrate public policy."