Nearly three-quarters of the assignments completed by the Defense Contract Audit Agency in the first half of fiscal 2010 failed to meet professional standards, according to a new report from the Defense Department Inspector General.

The inspector general questioned DCAA’s judgment in 37 of the 50 reports reviewed, or 74%.

DCAA “did not exercise professional judgment” in those cases, states the March 7 inspector general report.

“The abundance of non-compliances with standards identified in the 37 assignments evidenced the need for improvements in the area of competence at DCAA,” the IG report stated.

Shortcomings included “external impairments to independence, inadequate planning, poor communications with the requester and contractor, insufficient evidence, unsupported or untimely reports, poor documentation, and ineffective supervision and quality control,” the report said.

Some of the audits ought to be withdrawn or revised, the IG recommended; DCAA managers agreed in principle.

Pentagon officials noted that many corrective actions have been taken since fiscal 2009. The inspector general said those actions would be evaluated.

The IG noted that the evaluation was delayed due to a focus on other projects.

More information: Defense IG report: http://goo.gl/q9npN