SPOT On

Government Accountability Office auditors recently said the Defense Department still lacks needed information on contractors working in the U.S. Central Command region, despite Pentagon efforts to address the issue.

Defense officials introduced the Synchronized Predeployment and Operational Tracker (SPOT) system some years ago to keep tabs on how many contractors are working for DOD overseas, where they are located and what exactly they were hired to do. Since then, officials have been scrambling to make the use of SPOT mandatory for contractors, rewriting procurement regulations to that effect and reminding contracting officers to get their suppliers' records into the SPOT database as soon as possible.

In a new CENTCOM order, dated Oct. 31, officials are taking another step. The order comes in the wake of the latest GAO report on the topic of contractor visibility, which said Pentagon officials lack uniform criteria for issuing "letters of authorization" to contractors. The documents grant workers access to the war zones of Iraq and Afghanistan, and they are required for receiving DOD support services while deployed.

As of Dec. 1, CENTCOM officials will no longer accept "manual" LOAs, the order reads. Instead, all contractors must go through the SPOT application to obtain a system-generated LOA. Those without SPOT-issued LOAs after the deadline will no longer be eligible for identification cards, military transport or DOD medical services in theater, the order reads.

In addition, the order requires all armed contractors to be registered in SPOT, complete with data about the weapons they are authorized to carry. Moreover, officials must enter instances of contractors killed, missing, wounded or cases of misconduct into SPOT, the order reads.