Regarding Waxman's concerns about oversight and the need for independent review of contracts, the DHS spokesman took note that the GAO had a similar concern, but had been satified by steps taken by DHS for independent validation of contracts. DHS's Chief Procurement Office certified last November that Boeing had established procedures to prevent conflicts of interest between the company and major subcontractors, added Kia Evans, a spokeswoman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a division of DHS.

As for Thompson's criticism about task orders being issued simultaneously, Evans admitted that DHS is proceeding "with a sense of urgency on this critical national issue" of border security, while remaining sensitive to House concerns. "We are working to ensure that appropriate tasks are on contract to fulfill the mission," Evans said in an e-mail response to questions.

Boeing's vice president and program manager for SBInet Jerry McElwee updated Waxman's committee on SBInet on Feb. 8, stressing that the government will set requirements for the entire program, and not Boeing. "We do collaborate extensively [with the government] but the final decision is made by the government," he said in his remarks.

One task order in the project, known as Project 28 for a 28-mile stretch of border near Saseby, Ariz., has already been started, McElwee testified. It calls for equipping a mobile tower in that location with new technology by mid-June, including all-weather electro-optic gear, infrared camera, radar and digital communications equipment, he said. DHS has put the cost of Project 28 at $20 million.

One congressional aide described Project 28 as a "virtual fence" to work instead of an actual physical fence, which characterizes much of the SBInet program.