BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan--Some of the Soldiers and Department of the Army Civilians assigned to the 3-401st Army Field Support Battalion work 'part time' to support Defense Contract Management Agency in ensuring that services provided by contractors are delivered on time at the projected cost and meet all performance requirements.
The "Super CORs," or contracting officer representatives, from the battalion Quality Assurance Office conduct monthly audits focusing on contractor procedures, the paperwork trail and additional inspections of work completed by contractors working under the battalion. The results of these monthly audits are sent to DCMA for further action in the effort to ensure products and services delivered to the Warfighter meet or exceed required standards.
All of the personnel assigned to the battalion QA office are CORs, but CORs can also be separate from the Quality Assurance office and monitor the technical and/or administrative aspects of contractor performance during the life-cycle of the contract.
"Only 3-401st Quality Assurance personnel are qualified and designated as a 'Super COR'," said Russell W. Gordy, 3-401st AFSBn quality assurance chief. "This is because they are Quality Assurance Specialists 'QAS' by trade and have the necessary quality background to cover the entire spectrum of contractor operations."
The Super COR is certified by DCMA to audit seven areas of contractor performance using DCMA audit sheets and can audit any contractor function at any location in theater Gordy added. These actions are performed in parallel with the QAS primary duties of performing contract oversight and government acceptance inspection on contractor maintenance products for the 3-401st.
The Super COR duties also include mentoring the newly appointed CORs in auditing technics and practices as well as government and contractor policies and procedures said Gordy.
During a recent audit visit to Logistics Task Force North, John H. Holden, 3-401st Army Field Support Bagram quality assurance specialist and super COR, audited vehicle maintenance, weapons repair, safety, environmental and calibration.
While Holden was in the maintenance shop auditing paperwork, a Soldier attached to 82nd Airborne Division brought in a vehicle, which provided an opportunity to observe the contractor's maintenance procedure in detail. The contractor first verified the Soldier was authorized to turn in vehicles. A contractor quality control inspector was assigned to check the vehicle to ensure there is no ammunition, weapons or basic issue items inside. The contractor then signs for the vehicle and begins the initial inspection to verify the problem reported by the unit as well as to determine any other issues with the vehicle. This inspection can take two or more hours to complete. The unit commander is given the results of the inspection so a decision can be made on authorizing work beyond presenting problem that caused the vehicle to be brought in. If a COR is assigned to the work site, they will accept and open work orders based upon the unit commander's decisions. Some of the smaller areas do not have CORs so government oversight occurs with the audit.
Holden said an audit can take several hours to all day depending on the size of the operation.
"I don't tell them [the contractor] how to do their job," Holden said. "The PWS [performance work statement] tells them that."
Holden added that he verifies contractor processes and procedures, recordkeeping and will inspect a representative sample of completed work.
"The more eyes on it [a piece of equipment], the safer it is when the Soldier takes it out," said Nexhmedin Beqiri, a contractor quality control inspector at LTF North.
Social Sharing