International food aid, better agency collaboration needed to assess and improve emergency food aid procurement system

" USDA and USAID spent about $9.2 billion to provide international emergency food aid during fiscal years 2007-2012. USDA developed WBSCM with USAID's input to manage domestic and international food aid procurements. USDA spent about $187 million to develop and implement the system. GAO was asked to examine the international emergency food aid procurement process. This report examines (1) the extent to which agencies agree to use WBSCM to manage the process, (2) how the agencies' use of WBSCM and other systems affects USDA's ability to have accurate information, and (3) the extent to which the agencies are collaborating on how to use WBSCM. GAO reviewed the procurement process and observed WBSCM in use. We analyzed inventory spreadsheets used to compile USDA's financial reports. We compared agencies' efforts to collaborate against key elements for effective interagency collaboration. "