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 1993-10-21 monographic deposited born digital GA 1.13:T-RCED-94-52 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-RCED-94-52 P0b002ee1803a1109 f:trc94052 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-T-RCED-94-52 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-T-RCED-94-52 T-RCED-94-52 Ships Oceanographic research Marine resources development Cost effectiveness analysis Cost control Agency missions Equipment maintenance Contract administration Contractor performance Leases NOAA Fleet Modernization Plan Testimony RCED The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) $1.9 billion fleet modernization plan calls for acquiring 24 new or refurbished vessels during a 15-year period. Several reports, including those from GAO and the Department of Commerce, have encouraged NOAA to use more private sector ship services to cut costs. So far, however, NOAA has used contracting on a very limited basis, and its fleet modernization plan makes few provisions for vessel contracting. NOAA needs to experiment with contracting and leasing options to determine whether the private sector can effectively meet NOAA's mission requirements. In experimenting with contracting, NOAA will need to grant contractors flexibility in how they do the work so that NOAA obtains the cost and operational data it needs to determine the extent that contracting can meet mission needs. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-T-RCED-94-52/html/GAOREPORTS-T-RCED-94-52.htm GAO/T-RCED-94-52 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-RCED-94-52 Testimony GAO/T-RCED-94-52; Ocean Research Vessels: NOAA Fleet Modernization Plan; Ships Oceanographic research Marine resources development Cost effectiveness analysis Cost control Agency missions Equipment maintenance Contract administration Contractor performance Leases NOAA Fleet Modernization Plan