Federal Courthouse Construction: More Disciplined Approach Would Reduce
Costs and Provide for Better Decisionmaking (Testimony, 11/08/95,
GAO/T-GGD-96-19).

GAO discussed the General Services Administration's (GSA) major
courthouse construction initiative, focusing on: (1) GSA approach for
meeting federal courthouse needs; (2) controls over courthouse
construction design and cost; and (3) efforts to improve the initiative.
GAO noted that: (1) although GSA and the judiciary have processes to
identify courthouse needs, they have not developed a strategic capital
investment plan that identifies short- and long-term project funding
needs and sets priorities among competing projects; (2) historically,
GSA and the judiciary have made hasty decisions affecting construction
design and cost that have resulted in overspending and inconsistent
courthouse designs; (3) GSA and the Administrative Office of the U.S.
Courts (AOC) have taken actions to improve the courthouse construction
initiative and prioritize construction projects; and (4) Congress has
attempted to control the cost of courthouse projects by introducing
legislation to improve the identification and justification of high
priority courthouse projects.

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

 REPORTNUM:  T-GGD-96-19
     TITLE:  Federal Courthouse Construction: More Disciplined Approach 
             Would Reduce Costs and Provide for Better
             Decisionmaking
      DATE:  11/08/95
   SUBJECT:  Construction costs
             Strategic planning
             Internal controls
             Federal courts
             Federal office buildings
             Government facility construction
             Cost control
             Proposed legislation
             Courts (law)
             Future budget projections
IDENTIFIER:  Federal Buildings Fund
             GSA Time Out Program
             GSA Prospectus Development Study
             Foley Square Courthouse (NY)
             Boston (MA)
             St. Louis (MO)
             Kansas City (KS)
             Shreveport (LA)
             Miami (FL)
             Minneapolis (MN)
             
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