Embassy Construction: Better Long-term Planning Will Enhance Program
Decision-making (Letter Report, 01/22/2001, GAO/GAO-01-11).

The State Department has determined that about 80 percent of overseas
U.S. diplomatic facilities lack adequate security and may be vulnerable
to terrorist attack. In September 1998, State expanded its capital
construction program to accelerate replacing its most vulnerable
embassies and consulates by acquiring sites and preparing plans at 10
priority locations. This report summarizes (1) the status of the 10
priority embassy and consulate construction projects, and (2) State's
plans for the overall construction program. As of November 2000, seven
projects are in the construction phase. The remaining three projects are
on hold pending agreement between State and Congress about the
Department's construction proposals. Although State envisions a
long-term, multi-billion dollar program and has ranked more than 180
facilities it may need to replace, it has not prepared a long-term
capital construction plan that identifies (1) proposed construction
project's cost estimates and schedules, and (2) estimated annual funding
requirements for the overall program.

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

 REPORTNUM:  GAO-01-11
     TITLE:  Embassy Construction: Better Long-term Planning Will
	     Enhance Program Decision-making
      DATE:  01/22/2001
   SUBJECT:  Construction costs
	     Government facility construction
	     Strategic planning
	     Embassies
	     Future budget projections
	     Facility security
	     Terrorism
IDENTIFIER:  Kampala (Uganda)
	     Doha (Qatar)
	     Tunis (Tunisia)
	     Dar es Salaam (Tanzania)
	     Nairobi (Kenya)
	     Istanbul (Turkey)
	     Zagreb (Croatia)
	     Sao Paulo (Brazil)
	     Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
	     Luanda (Angola)