Information Resources: USDA Lacks Data on Major Computer Systems (Letter
Report, 10/21/93, GAO/AIMD-94-31).

The Agriculture Department (USDA) says that it has 17 major computer
systems under development with total estimated life-cycle costs of $6.3
billion.  One of these--a major information technology modernization
program for the farm service agencies--accounts for about $2.6 billion
of this amount.  USDA has two additional major initiatives--one to
streamline administrative processes and another to develop integrated
financial information systems--that are still in early planning stages
and therefore do not yet have estimated life-cycle costs.  Although the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requires specific information
about major systems, USDA has not routinely collected and reported these
basic data and has therefore not complied with these government
reporting requirements.  USDA, OMB, and Congress need these data to
determine (1) how and to what extent information technology is being
used and (2) whether planned information technology investments warrant
further review.  Recently, USDA has taken steps to comply with the OMB
requirements.

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  AIMD-94-31
     TITLE:  Information Resources: USDA Lacks Data on Major Computer 
             Systems
      DATE:  10/21/93
   SUBJECT:  Financial management systems
             Computerized information systems
             Management information systems
             Information resources management
             Agricultural programs
             Strategic information systems planning
             Reporting requirements
             Information gathering operations
             Systems development life cycle
             Life cycle costs
IDENTIFIER:  USDA Info Share Program
             USDA Modernization of Administrative Processes Initiative
             USDA Financial Information System Vision and Strategy 
             Initiative
             
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