Review of VA's Revised Workload Study for Its Austin, Texas, Data Processing Facility

In 1978, GAO reviewed a Veterans Administration (VA) proposal to acquire an IBM 370/168 multiprocessor system to handle increased requirements for it Beneficiary Identification and Records Locator System (BIRLS). The major cause of the increased requirements was the installation of a new Target System which would use information in the BIRLS master database. The Target System is being completed in phases. As more regional offices are provided with on-line capabilities, the workload increases, especially during the prime-day shift. GAO felt that an IBM 370/158 would be sufficient and proposed austerity actions to eliminate projected peak-hour shortfall. VA officials at first agreed with the GAO position, but later determined that the IBM 370/158 would not be sufficient to meet its needs. In 1979, Congress instructed VA to study the problem further. GAO reviewed the VA study which recommended that VA be authorized to use the IBM 370/168 computer rather than the IBM 370/158 recommended by GAO. The study contained new workload projections, and GAO was asked to reevaluate its earlier recommendation in light of these projections.