Audit of USAID/Afghanistan's Oversight of Private Security Contractors in Afghanistan

USAID/Afghanistan's Director of Acquisition and Assistance include a clause or provision in all acquisition and assistance agreements to require the implementing partner to report information on casualties as well as serious incidents.

USAID/Afghanistan's devise and implement a formal process, consistent with standards specified in 32 CFR 159.6, for its employees to forward reports of serious incidents and casualties to a designated office that will collect and coordinate the reports.

USAID/Afghanistan's Director of Acquisition and Assistance provide written notification to the implementing partners responsible for the two awards (detailed in the table on page 13) directing them to use only private security contractors licensed by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

USAID/Afghanistan's Director of Acquisition and Assistance require that the implementing partners-to which the 17 private security companies (identified in the audit report) have been subcontracted-provide what would customarily be advance notification to USAID/Afghanistan, so that consent to subcontract may be considered and granted or refused.

USAID/Afghanistan's Director of Acquisition and Assistance issue written guidance to existing implementing partners and the office's contracting officers, reminding them of the requirements of Federal Acquisition Regulation part 44.2.

USAID/Afghanistan's contracting officer add Federal Acquisition Regulation Clause 52.225-19, " Contractor Personnel in a Designated Operational Area or Supporting a Diplomatic or Consular Mission Outside the United States, " to all its existing acquisition awards and issue guidance to include the clause in future awards.

USAID/Afghanistan's contracting officer request in writing that the Chief of Mission issue Mission-wide instructions for non-DOD PSCs and their personnel, as required by Interim Final Rule 32 CFR 159.4(c), to either (1) implement standards set forth by the geographic combatant commander, or (2) instruct non-DOD PSCs and their personnel to follow the guidance and procedures developed by the geographic combatant commander and/or subordinate commander.

USAID/Afghanistan's contracting officer request in writing that the Office of Acquisition and Assistance provide acquisition and assistance award language to regulate subcontracted private security services.