Small government contractors will get their own mediator at the Defense Department audit agency under the National Defense Authorization Act of fiscal 2013, Section 1612.

According to a brief from McKenna Long law firm, the ombudsman will advise the Defense Contract Audit Agency on policy issues related to small business and serve as the audit agency’s primary point of contact for small business concerns.

The new office also will collect data and monitor information about the timeliness of DCAA’s audit closeouts for small businesses and about the agency’s responsiveness to small business issues.

However, the ombudsman role is limited significantly by language in the law, the law firm added in its brief.

The NDAA states that the ombudsman “shall be segregated from ongoing audits in the field and shall not engage in activities regarding particular audits that could compromise the independence of the DCAA,” McKenna Long indicated.

More information: McKenna Long: http://www.mckennalong.com/publications-advisories-3153.html