[FedCom] IRS Service Centers/Government Contract Security

[Ken]

Many years ago, I was station at one military base with a civilian employee
who had previously worked for the IRS as an Internal Auditor.   One time
they did a surprise late evening security operational audit of one of the
service centers that employed contract guards.  They slipped under the outer
perimeter fence even as the cameras were on/aimed at the fence.  Found a
back door open and made there way to the most sensitive area of the facility
without being challenged.  Apparently all/most of the contract guards
weren't up to the task.   His boss made one call and within a few hours the
US Marshall Service was providing temporary security since the contractor
was basically fired.

I'm sure the quality of contract guard service will vary.. I know at one
military installation in CT the perimeter/entry gate security is by contact
security BUT the flight line security is performed by Air Guard technicians
and/or activated Air Guard personnel.  At a MA ANG Base even the civilian
security folks are actual civil service type employees & not contractors.

Somehow I'd assume that there's going to be some sort of internal security
at the service centers, perhaps cameras monitored from a remote location or
perhaps on site as well as from a remote location.  Security breaches would
be responded to by local PD.

In many federal building there's a senior Federal Protection Officer who
monitors the contact security/screening personnel and after hours would
probably respond to certain alarm conditions along with the local PD....
HOWEVER, my understanding is that the federal court system is still
maintaining its' own security, even in federal buildings.

>From a radio monitoring standpoint the FPO's are dispatched from a regional
dispatch center (might be going to a national dispatch center and/or
expanded regional (2 or more regions?) dispatch center  -- thought I saw
something on the website.  Also the FPO's are given the opportunties to work
with other Homeland Defense Agencies...

Of course from a radio comm standpoint the GSA building security is now
pretty much digital comms (not sure if encrypted).  Even if contractors take
over security, there's a very good chance that the government agencies
frequencies are still going to be used rather than a civilian business type
frequency.

Ken