The Pentagon's top watchdog is concerned the Air Force doesn't know if it's getting its money's worth with an energy-savings contract, and could be paying out millions without confirming the benefits are realized, a new report said.

"Air Force officials do not know whether the approximately $19 million they spent on the contract, as of January 31, 2015, achieved energy savings ... and may not have received what they paid for under the contract," said a report by the Office of Inspector General, the Defense Department's internal investigative office.

The contract, meant as part of a larger push by the Energy Department to improve energy efficiency across the government, the contract was designed to help Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, reduce the amount of energy it uses.

Contractors are supposed to make improvements to the base and its equipment that will not only reduce the amount of energy used, but also save money. The contractor then receives a cut of cost-savings as payment.

But at Joint Base McGuire, the Air Force didn't check the contractor's work, didn't review invoices and didn't verify that the energy savings reported by the company, Ameresco, were accurate, the IG's report said.

Contracting officials "did not validate any of the contractor's $20.4 million in actual energy savings reported," the IG's report said.

The IG is concerned that another $115 million could be incorrectly paid out over the lifetime of the contract if the Air Force doesn't improve its oversight.

Air Force officials have not yet responded to the IG's report but have until July 29 to do so. Representatives at Joint Base McGuire directed all questions to the Pentagon.

"The Air Force is reviewing the Inspector General report ... and will provide our input in accordance with the Inspector General process to be incorporated into the final report," Air Force spokeswoman Maj. Melissa Milner said.

The Air Force Times also reached out to representatives at Ameresco but has not received a response.

The watchdog office said officials weren't double-checking the work of the company.

"The contracting officer did not perform contractor surveillance, document contractor compliance with contract requirements, or validate actual contractor energy savings," the IG's report said. "Contracting officials stated this occurred because the contracting officer was engaged in other priorities."

Investigators noted that the contracting office did not assign a contracting officer's representative, or COR, to oversee the energy upgrades because the 87th Civil Engineering Squadron "did not have a qualified civil engineer to perform COR duties."

The Air Force awarded the contract to Ameresco in 2009 to perform five main tasks: installing high-efficiency lighting, updating energy management control systems, reducing the rate of natural gas used, and overhauling the base's boilers and chiller plants.

The IG wants Joint Base McGuire to review the money that's already been paid out and the energy improvements that are supposed to be in place. Then it wants the Air Force to improve its oversight going forward, verifying the company's work and checking its invoices.

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