Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar
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Report No. DODIG-2018-049 U.S. Department of Defense InspectorDECEMBER 21, 2017 General U.S. Military-Occupied Facilities Evaluation – Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar INTEGRITY EFFICIENCY ACCOUNTABILITY EXCELLENCE INTEGRITY EFFICIENCY ACCOUNTABILITY EXCELLENCE Mission Our mission is to provide independent, relevant, and timely oversight of the Department of Defense that supports the warfighter; promotes accountability, integrity, and efficiency; advises the Secretary of Defense and Congress; and informs the public. Vision Our vision is to be a model oversight organization in the Federal Government by leading change, speaking truth, and promoting excellence—a diverse organization, working together as one professional team, recognized as leaders in our field. Fraud, Waste, & Abuse HOTLINE Department of Defense dodig.mil/hotline|800.424.9098 For more information about whistleblower protection, please see the inside back cover. U.S. Military-Occupied Facilities Evaluation – Al Udeid ResultsAir Base, Qatar in Brief December 21, 2017 Findings (cont’d) Objective On June 21, 2017, the Commander responded to these concerns and indicated that they were addressed or in the process of Our objective was to evaluate being addressed. See Appendix B for additional information U.S. military-occupied facilities at on the notice of concern and the Commander’s response. Al Udeid Air Base to verify compliance Recommendations with DoD health and safety policies and standards regarding indoor air quality, electrical systems, fire protection systems, We recommend that the Commander, 379th Air and active and inactive fuel systems. Findings Expeditionary Wing: • Conduct a root cause analysis and implement a corrective action plan for all deficiencies identified We found that indoor air quality, electrical in this report. Ensure that facility operations and systems, fire protection systems, and maintenance comply with the Unified Facilities Criteria inactive fuel systems were not being and the National Fire Protection Association standards. maintained in accordance with DoD health Determine the causes of the moisture intrusion into and safety policies and standards. However, occupied facilities. Include an assessment of the fuel we found that the active fuel systems at system pipelines in accordance with the American Al Udeid Air Base were generally maintained Petroleum Institute (API 570) piping inspection code. in accordance with DoD health and safety • Conduct a root cause analysis and implement a policies and standards. corrective action plan to ensure that all construction projects are reviewed for compliance with applicable We identified a total of 253 deficiencies fire protection and fuel systems codes and standards that could affect the health, safety, and before they are accepted by the Government well-being of DoD personnel: 13 related to as complete. indoor air quality, 105 related to electrical Management Comments systems, 49 related to fire protection systems, and 86 related to inactive fuel and Our Response systems. The deficiencies identified during our evaluation resulted from acceptance of new construction that did not comply The Commander, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing (AEW), agreed with DoD health and safety policies and with our findings and recommendations, and has taken action standards, moisture intrusion into facilities, to mitigate and reduce the risks to Government personnel and and inadequate facility maintenance. property. The Commander stated that he had taken steps to identify root causes and correct deficiencies identified in the We considered five of the electrical report. Specifically, he stated that the 379th Expeditionary deficiencies we identified to be critical Civil Engineer Squadron (ECES) had conducted inspections of deficiencies requiring immediate all facilities for the types of electrical deficiencies identified in corrective action and issued a notice the report and had implemented corrective actions, including of concern on June 7, 2017, to the replacing electrical panels, adding protective barriers around Commander, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing. i DODIG-2018-049 (Project No. D2017-D000PT-0103.000) │ U.S. Military-Occupied Facilities Evaluation – Al Udeid ResultsAir Base, Qatar in Brief Management Comments (cont’d) transformers, and purchasing electrical diagnostic Additionally, the Commander did not address the equipment to identify problems. The Commander recommendation to determine the cause of the water further stated that the base operations support intrusion and the poor air quality in the facilities and contractor had updated the status of fire suppression correct the related deficiencies. The Commander stated systems for all facilities and was correcting all that there is no active roof inspection program, but deficiencies. Where timely correction of fire deficiencies he did not confirm that roof infiltration is the only was not possible, the Commander stated that 379 ECES contributor to indoor air quality problems. Therefore, was mitigating the risk. In addition, the Commander these two recommendations are unresolved. We request stated that the command had added the services of a that the Commander, 379 AEW, provide additional fire protection engineer to the base operations support comments on these recommendations within 30 days of contract for the design and execution of construction the issuance of this report. The additional comments projects. Finally, the Commander stated that a contract should address all specific causes of the moisture was awarded to correct the fuel system deficiencies and intrusion and air quality problems in facilities and to bring the system into full compliance with the Unified corrective action plans. In addition, the Commander’s Facilities Criteria by May 2018. comments should address the specific actions planned to ensure that fuel system construction projects are Therefore, four of the six recommendations are resolved reviewed for compliance with applicable fuel systems but remain open. We will close these recommendations standards before the Government accepts them once we verify that the stated corrective actions have as complete. been implemented. Please see the Recommendations Table on the next page. Comments from the Commander, 379 AEW, did not address the recommendation to ensure that all construction projects are reviewed for compliance with applicable fuel systems standards before the Government accepts the systems as complete. ii │ DODIG-2018-049 (Project No. D2017-D000PT-0103.000) Recommendations Table Recommendations Recommendations Recommendations Management Unresolved Resolved Closed A.1, B.1.a, B.1.b, Commander, U.S. Air Forces Central C.1.b and D.1 None and C.1.a Please provide Management Comments by January 14, 2018. Note: The following categories are used to describe agency management’s comments to individual recommendations. • Unresolved – Management has not agreed to implement the recommendation or has not proposed actions that will address the recommendation. • Resolved – Management agreed to implement the recommendation or has proposed actions that will address the underlying finding that generated the recommendation. • Closed – OIG verified that the agreed upon corrective actions were implemented. iii DODIG-2018-049 (Project No. D2017-D000PT-0103.000) │ INSPECTOR GENERAL DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 4800 MARK CENTER DRIVE ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA 22350-1500 December 21, 2017 MEMORANDUM FOR DISTRIBUTION SUBJECT: U.S. Military-Occupied Facilities Evaluation – Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar (Report No. DODIG-2018-049) We are providing this report for review and comment. We found that the active fuel systems at Al Udeid Air Base were generally maintained in accordance with DoD health and safety policies and standards. However, we found that indoor air quality, electrical systems, fire protection systems, and inactive fuel systems were not being maintained in accordance with DoD health and safety policies and standards. We conducted this evaluation in accordance with the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, “Quality Standards for Inspection and Evaluation.” We considered comments from the Commander, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing (379 AEW), when preparing the final report. DoD Instruction 7650.03 requires that recommendations be resolved promptly. Comments from the Commander, 379 AEW, partially addressed the recommendations. Therefore, we request additional comments on Recommendations C.1.b and D.1 by January 14, 2018. Please send a PDF file containing your comments to [email protected]. Copies of your comments must have the actual signature of the authorizing official for your organization. We cannot accept the /Signed/ symbol in place of the actual signature. If you arrange to send classified comments electronically, you must send them over the SECRET Internet Protocol Router Network (SIPRNET). We appreciate the courtesies extended to the staff. Randolph R. Stone Deputy Inspector General Policy and Oversight v DODIG-2018-049│ Distribution: UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (COMPTROLLER), DEPUTY CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR POLICY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (ENERGY, INSTALLATIONS, AND ENVIRONMENT); ENVIRONMENT, SAFETY, AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH DIRECTORATE DIRECTOR, COST ASSESSMENT AND PROGRAM EVALUATION DOD PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT OFFICER/DEPUTY CHIEF MANAGEMENT OFFICER UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR ACQUISITION, TECHNOLOGY AND LOGISTICS COMMANDER, UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND AUDITOR GENERAL OF THE AIR FORCE SECRETARY