United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1994-08-03 monographic deposited born digital GA 1.13:RCED-94-170 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-RCED-94-170 P0b002ee1803852c2 f:rc94170 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-RCED-94-170 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-RCED-94-170 RCED-94-170 Ships Oceanographic research Cost control Cost effectiveness analysis Future budget projections Comparative analysis Evaluation methods Agency missions Federal procurement Data collection operations NOAA Fleet Modernization Plan National Performance Review NOAA National Undersea Research Program Letter Report RCED The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the Commerce Department operates a fleet of 18 ships that supports its programs in fisheries and oceanographic research, and hydrographic charting and mapping. Because the fleet is old and technologically obsolete, NOAA has concluded that fleet replacement and modernization are critical to supporting its mission requirements. In this report on the cost-efficiency, accounting, and operating practices of NOAA vessels compared with other federal and private research vessels, GAO found that NOAA has generally agreed with previous studies that it experiment with contracting and chartering the services of private vessels as an alternative to acquiring new ships. NOAA's current fleet modernization plan, however, focuses on the acquisition of new vessels and does not fully consider the role that contracted and chartered vessels could play. Because NOAA does not have the data it needs to adequately assess whether use of private ships could meet its needs, the agency has no assurance that its fleet modernization plans are the most cost-effective means of meeting future program requirements. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-RCED-94-170/html/GAOREPORTS-RCED-94-170.htm GAO/RCED-94-170 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-RCED-94-170 Letter Report GAO/RCED-94-170; Research Fleet Modernization: NOAA Needs to Consider Alternatives to the Acquisition of New Vessels; Ships Oceanographic research Cost control Cost effectiveness analysis Future budget projections Comparative analysis Evaluation methods Agency missions Federal procurement Data collection operations NOAA Fleet Modernization Plan National Performance Review NOAA National Undersea Research Program Public Law 102-567