Recent GAO Publications

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently issued the following publications:

Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Request: U.S. Government Accountability Office.
GAO-09-699T, May 21
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-699T

Effect of Personnel Reform on the Federal Aviation Administration's Budget.
GAO-09-645R, May 14.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-645R

Designated Federal Entities: Survey of Governance Practices and the Inspector General Role.
GAO-09-270, April 20.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-270
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09270high.pdf

Foreign Assistance: Measures to Prevent Inadvertent Payments to Terrorists under Palestinian Aid Programs Have Been Strengthened, but Some Weaknesses Remain.
GAO-09-622, May 19
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-622
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09622high.pdf

DOD Business Systems Modernization: Recent Slowdown in Institutionalizing Key Management Controls Needs to Be Addressed.
GAO-09-586, May 18.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-586
Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09586high.pdf

Financial Audit: Congressional Award Foundation's Fiscal Years 2008 and 2007 Financial Statements.
GAO-09-652, May 15.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-652

Appropriations Decisions:

B-316860, National Transportation Safety Board--Application of Section
1072 of the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act (41 U.S.C. sect.
254c) to Real Property Leases, April 29, 2009
http://www.gao.gov/decisions/appro/316860.htm

Statutory language authorizing the National Transportation Safety Board to "enter into such contracts, leases, cooperative agreements, and other transactions as may be necessary" to carry out its functions and duties permits the agency to enter into leases of real property. The 1994 recodification of that provision omitting the word "leases" did not change the provision's meaning.

Under 41 U.S.C. sect. 254c, the phrase "acquisition of property" includes leases of real property. Accordingly, agencies with authority to lease real property may enter into contracts for up to 5 years for the lease of real property using fiscal year appropriations if the conditions of 41 U.S.C. sect. 254c are met.