Congressional Justifications for 2001 Estimates

SCOPE OF ACTIVITY

The Office of the Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) was established in March 1998. The Office is responsible for all procurement activities of the Department. This includes the award and administration of procurement contracts, purchase orders, and interagency agreements to support program and administrative needs in Headquarters and throughout the field. The Office develops and implements Departmental policies, standards, and procedures and systems for an effective contracting program. The CPO reports directly to the Office of the Secretary.

The Chief Procurement Officer is responsible for oversight and management of all Departmental procurement activities. The CPO serves as the principal adviser to the Secretary and senior Departmental staff on procurement matters. The CPO leads the Department's procurement reform initiatives and directs the Department's procurement planning and contract management activities.

The Office of Procurement and Contracts (OPC) is responsible for procurement operations and policy. The Director reports to the Chief Procurement Officer. OPC awards and administers all Departmental procurement contracts and related agreements through its Headquarters and Field Operations components. OPC also develops and implements Department procurement policies, procedures, standards and automated procurement applications.

The Administrative Support Division is responsible for the award and administration of contracts, purchase orders, and interagency agreements for a number of Headquarters offices including Administration, Enforcement Center, General Counsel, Government National Mortgage Association, Public and Indian Housing, the Real Estate Assessment Center, Departmental Equal Employment Opportunity, Departmental Management, Lead Hazard Control, the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Procurement Office and the Chief Information Office.

The Program Support Division is responsible for the award and administration of contracts, purchase orders, and interagency agreements for several Headquarters program offices including Community Planning and Development, Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, Housing, Policy Development and Research and Multifamily Housing Assistance Restructuring.

The Policy and Field Operations Division is responsible for the training and for review and improvement of procurement practices, policies, and procedures throughout the Department. Additionally, the Division oversees Field Contracting Operations in New York, Atlanta, and Denver with outstationed personnel in other field locations. The Field Contracting Operation awards and administers contracts, purchases orders, and interagency agreements for Department field needs and for Headquarters customers when requested by the Office Director. Field contracting staff also provide technical assistance to HUD grantees, such as public housing authorities, concerning procurement requirements under grants.

The table below identifies travel requirements unique to this activity, such as, M&M contract administration, field and Headquarters contracting staff conferences, meetings, and travel for training, performance reviews, field visits, special projects and technical assistance to the Procurement Office operations.

CONTRACTS

The table below identifies contract requirements unique to this activity. A total of $230 thousand in fiscal year 2001 is earmarked for an Inter-Agency Agreement with the Defense Contract Audit Agency for audit support. The remaining contract requirements are to support general support services.