Office of Inspector General report on audit of Department of Energy management and operating contractor available fees

The Office of Procurement and Assistance Management has proposed changes to the method used to annually calculate and negotiate ``for profit`` management and operating contractor available fees. This proposal will increase contractor fees in exchange for the contractor`s purported assumption of additional risk. In 1991, the Department, through the Accountability Rule, increased contractor fees as an incentive to improve contractor performance and accountability. Despite the lack of measurable benefits of this effort, the Department is crafting a new fee policy which will, depending upon how it is executed, increase fees above the amount provided through the Accountability Rule as an incentive to the Department`s management and operating contractors. The objective of the audit was to determine whether the Department`s proposed change to the fee structure for determining management and operating contractor fees will be cost effective. This report describes the study`s approach, its findings and recommendations, management and auditor comments, and includes appendices with further data.