United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office Office of the Comptroller General author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1999-01-01 monographic deposited born digital 40 p. GA 1.13:OCG-99-6 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-OCG-99-6 P0b002ee1803822eb f:cg99006 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-OCG-99-6 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-OCG-99-6 OCG-99-6 Performance measures Accountability Risk management Internal controls Federal procurement Personnel recruiting Financial management Federal agency reorganization Contract administration Strategic planning Performance and Accountability Series 1999 Hanford (WA) National Performance Review Clinch River Breeder Reactor (TN) DOE Fermilab Main Injector Project (IL) DOE Superconducting Super Collider Project Rocky Flats Plant (CO) DOE Idaho Pit 9 Remediation Demonstration Project Letter Report OCG As part of its Performance and Accountability Series, GAO provided information on major management challenges and program risks facing the Department of Energy (DOE).<p/>GAO noted that: (1) DOE has had difficulty completing large projects on time and within budget; (2) from 1980 through 1996, DOE terminated 31 of 80 major system acquisitions (mission-critical projects costing over $100 million) before completion, after expenditures of over $10 billion, and completed only 15, most of which were behind schedule and over budget; (3) with few exceptions, DOE's facilities are not licensed or inspected by independent regulators to help ensure safe operations; (4) the Department's own advisory committee concluded that widespread environmental contamination at DOE facilities and the immense costs associated with their cleanup provide clear evidence that self-regulation has failed; (5) while DOE agreed to external regulation in these areas, its commitment appears to be lagging; (6) DOE's ineffective organizational structure blurs accountability, allowing problems to go undetected and remain uncorrected; (7) DOE relies on contractors to perform about 90 percent of its work; (8) recently, it has significantly increased its use of competition in selecting contractors to manage and operate its major facilities, but it should do more; (9) however, it is still not competitively awarding contracts for environmental restoration work at its national laboratories, even though it does so at other facilities; (10) in addition, although DOE originally planned to shift risk from the federal government to private contractors as a means of enhancing their performance, it now considers risk-sharing more appropriate; (11) DOE's staff lack technical and management skills needed to oversee complex operations; (12) finding enough staff with the necessary skills presents a serious challenge to DOE, particularly in light of recent downsizing initiatives; (13) to correct performance and management challenges, DOE developed a strategic plan for contract reform in 1994; (14) in addition, during the early 1990s, DOE conducted or commissioned several studies of the missions and organization of its national laboratories; (15) DOE completed strategic and annual performance plans under the Results Act; and (16) these plans responded to reported criticisms of DOE's operations and established goals and measures for improved performance. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-OCG-99-6/html/GAOREPORTS-OCG-99-6.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-OCG-99-6/pdf/GAOREPORTS-OCG-99-6.pdf GAO/OCG-99-6 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-OCG-99-6 Letter Report GAO/OCG-99-6; Major Management Challenges and Program Risks: Department of Energy; Performance measures Accountability Risk management Internal controls Federal procurement Personnel recruiting Financial management Federal agency reorganization Contract administration Strategic planning Performance and Accountability Series 1999 Hanford (WA) National Performance Review Clinch River Breeder Reactor (TN) DOE Fermilab Main Injector Project (IL) DOE Superconducting Super Collider Project Rocky Flats Plant (CO) DOE Idaho Pit 9 Remediation Demonstration Project