Report cites long-range concerns over GI Bill - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times

Report cites long-range concerns over GI Bill

On a day when the Veterans Affairs Department announced that more than 700 colleges and universities have signed up to provide discounted tuition for veterans under the new Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits program, officials are fending off allegations that contracting problems imperil the planned Aug. 1 start date for benefits payments.

Contracting problems were disclosed in an internal report by the VA inspector general, which suggests VA doesn’t seem to have control over efforts to use information technology to help compute and process claims.

VA reached an agreement with the Navy’s Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, known as SPAWAR, to provide expertise on creating the technology required for a fully automated system.

The command turned over most of the work to outside contractors, and what began as a single $2.5 million contract ballooned into 22 contract amendments now totaling about $66 million, with more additions expected, according to the IG report.

Cost is one concern, but the IG report also focuses on questions about who, exactly, is in charge. The IG cited “poor” administration, broad agreements lacking deadlines, and work underway that was outside the scope of the VA-Navy agreement.

Rep. Steve Buyer, R-Ind., who requested the report in February, said he is worried. “I am deeply concerned that these egregious errors may seriously jeopardize timely delivery of the Post 9/11 GI Bill program,” he said in a statement issued Thursday, when the IG report was released.

Buyer said he wants “assurance that VA is prepared to handle the thousands of claims it will receive for education benefits. VA must take immediate action to get the contracting mess with SPAWAR straightened out.”

Stephen Warren, VA’s principal deputy assistant secretary for information and technology, said the contracting issue involves only the long-range plans to set up a fully automated claims system, and has no effect on benefits this year.

“We will be delivering on time,” Warren said Friday. “In terms of delivery of short-term benefits, there is no problem.”

Instead, the IG raises questions that involve work on a long-range claims program that is supposed to be ready by December 2010, Warren said.

The IG report and Buyer’s comments overshadowed some good news for the new benefits program: the announcement that more than 700 colleges and universities had signed so-called Yellow Ribbon Program agreements with VA to reduce out-of-pocket expenses when tuition and fees exceed state caps under the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.

Under the Yellow Ribbon Program, VA will match, dollar for dollar, any reduction in tuition made by a participating school. This is a significant program for students who are attending graduate and private schools or who must pay out-of-state tuition at public colleges or universities. Basic benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill are capped in each state at undergraduate in-state rate for tuition and fees at the most expensive four-year public institution in the state where the student is enrolled.

More schools may be added to the Yellow Ribbon list. VA officials are accepting agreements until June 15 for the 2009-10 academic year.

Patrick Dunne, VA’s benefits chief, said in a statement that his department “is very pleased with the widespread interest in the program.”

More details about who is eligible for Yellow Ribbon benefits and other information is available on VA’s Post-9/11 GI Bill Web site.