1 SPOT-On Contracting: Improving Transparency and Contractor Personnel Monitoring in Contingency Operations Breakout Session # F11 Collin Swan The George Washington University Law School 2012 W. Gregor MacFarlan Excellence in Contract Management Research & Writing Program Tuesday, July 31, 4:00 PM – 5:15 PM

2 The Synchronized Pre-Deployment & Operational Tracker (“SPOT”) Interagency Web-Based System Purpose: –Authorize Deployment to Contingency Areas –Track Personnel Movement and Activities DOD, State, & USAID

3 Tracking Contractors in Contingency Operations Omnipresence of Contractors –Outnumber troops –Performing more (and more important) tasks Monitoring Difficulties –Ineffective oversight controls –“Twenty-thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle”

4 Transparency & Responsible Delegation Increases Public Participation Enhances Democratic Values Ensures Responsible Delegation Improves Accountability Transparency = Flow of Information

5 Diffusion of Responsibility

6 The Role of Technology Increased Data Processing Capabilities –Centralize, Standardize, Disseminate Willingness of Users is Critical Success Story: the B-2 Spirit “Stealth” Bomber

7 SPOT as a Monitoring Tool NDAA Fiscal Year 2008 –DOD, State, USAID SPOT Information Categories –Contract Data –Contractor Personnel SPOT Reporting Capabilities (not very robust)

8 SPOT Contract Info Screen

9 SPOT Personnel Info Screen

10 Centralize Data Through SPOT

11 Areas of Concern 1)Information Accessibility 2)Interagency Coordination 3)Capturing Information on Local Nationals 4)Security Risks

12 Improving Information Accessibility Query Functions & Reporting Capabilities List Information by Company –Contracts Held –Personnel Employed Clearly Identify Security Personnel

13 Enhancing Interagency Coordination Utilize SPOT Consistently –Uniform Reporting Requirements Link to Other Contract Databases –FPDS-NG –FAPIIS Improve Information Sharing!!

14 Capturing Reliable Information on Local Nationals SPOT-Generated Identification Cards –Similar to Letters of Authorization (LOAs) Cultural Factors & Internet Connectivity Issues

15 Alleviating Security Concerns with Using SPOT Use of SPOT by State & USAID –Perceived NGO Association with U.S. Military Cybersecurity Concerns –DOD  Cyberspace is an “Operational Domain” –Enhance Safeguarding Requirements

16 Suggestions welcome: Questions?