Chemical and Biological Defense:

Designated Entity Needed to Identify, Align, and Manage DOD's Infrastructure

GAO-15-257: Published: Jun 25, 2015. Publicly Released: Jun 25, 2015.

Additional Materials:

Contact:

Joseph Kirschbaum
(202) 512-9971
kirschbaumj@gao.gov

 

Office of Public Affairs
(202) 512-4800
youngc1@gao.gov

What GAO Found

A key component of the 26 Department of Defense (DOD) organizations that constitute the Chemical and Biological Defense Program (CBDP) Enterprise is the chemical and biological defense research and development and test and evaluation infrastructure. After nearly 7 years, the CBDP Enterprise has not fully achieved its goal to identify required infrastructure capabilities. The Joint Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense Program Analysis and Integration Office (PAIO), CBDP's analytical arm, recommended in 2008 that the CBDP Enterprise identify required infrastructure capabilities, such as laboratories to research chemical and biological agents, to ensure alignment of the infrastructure to its mission. CBDP Enterprise officials recognize the importance, validity, and necessity of addressing the 2008 recommendation. The CBDP Enterprise has made limited progress in achieving this infrastructure goal because CBDP Enterprise officials told GAO that they were focused on higher priorities and had no CBDP Enterprise-wide impetus to address the infrastructure recommendations. The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Programs previously identified the need for an entity that has the responsibility and authority needed to ensure achievement of this goal, but DOD has not designated such an entity. By identifying and designating an entity with the responsibility and authority to lead infrastructure transformation, the CBDP Enterprise would be better positioned to achieve this goal.

The CBDP Enterprise has taken some actions at its laboratories to identify duplication in its chemical and biological defense infrastructure. DOD directives outline goals, such as to avoid duplication by using existing DOD and other federal agencies' facilities. As part of an ongoing study to identify required infrastructure, in July 2015 PAIO plans to inventory and analyze CBDP Enterprise infrastructure for potential duplication. However, study officials stated that they do not plan to identify, request, or consider information about infrastructure capabilities from existing studies of other federal agencies, such as the Department of Homeland Security, because their office does not have the authority or resources to require such information. By considering existing information, which would not necessarily require new authority, PAIO will have more information about existing infrastructure inventory across the federal government, such as its capability and potential availability for use.

The CBDP Enterprise used threat data and plans to use threat data and the results from risk assessments piloted in 2014 to support its future portfolio planning process to prioritize research and development investment. However, the CBDP Enterprise has not updated its guidance and planning process to fully institutionalize the use of risk assessments. Federal standards for internal control state that agencies should have written procedures to better ensure leadership directives are implemented. According to CBDP Enterprise officials, while updating the guidance would be beneficial, they had not committed to updating such guidance or established a time frame for doing so. By updating its guidance to fully institutionalize the use of risk assessments, the CBDP Enterprise would be better positioned to prioritize future research and development investments.

Why GAO Did This Study

The United States faces current and emerging chemical and biological threats, and defenses against these threats enable DOD to protect the force, preclude strategic gains by adversaries, and reduce risk to U.S. interests.

GAO was asked to review DOD efforts to manage its chemical and biological defense infrastructure capabilities. This report examines the extent to which the CBDP Enterprise has: (1) achieved its goal to identify required infrastructure capabilities to address current and emerging chemical and biological threats; (2) identified, addressed, and managed potential fragmentation, overlap, and duplication in its chemical and biological defense infrastructure; and (3) used and plans to use threat data and the results of risk assessments to support its investment planning for chemical and biological defense. GAO analyzed CBDP infrastructure policies, plans, and studies from organizations across the CBDP Enterprise from fiscal years 2008 through 2014.

What GAO Recommends

GAO recommends, among other things, that DOD (1) designate an entity to lead the effort to identify required infrastructure; (2) identify, request, and consider any information from chemical and biological infrastructure studies of other federal agencies to avoid potential duplication; and (3) update the CBDP Enterprise's guidance and planning process to fully institutionalize the use of risk assessments. DOD concurred with all five of GAO's recommendations and discussed actions it plans to take.

For more information, contact Joseph Kirschbaum at (202) 512-9971 or kirschbaumj@gao.gov.

Recommendations for Executive Action

  1. Status: Open

    Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

    Recommendation: To improve the identification, alignment, and management of DOD's chemical and biological defense infrastructure and to help ensure that the CBDP Enterprise's infrastructure is properly aligned to address current and emerging chemical and biological threats, the Secretary of Defense should direct the appropriate DOD officials to identify and designate an entity within the CBDP Enterprise with the responsibility and authority to lead the effort to ensure achievement of the infrastructure goals (e.g., the four 2008 PAIO recommendations, including the recommendation that the CBDP Enterprise identify its required infrastructure capabilities, and the goal established in the 2012 CBDP Business Plan).

    Agency Affected: Department of Defense

  2. Status: Open

    Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

    Recommendation: To improve the identification, alignment, and management of DOD's chemical and biological defense infrastructure and to help ensure that the CBDP Enterprise's infrastructure is properly aligned to address current and emerging chemical and biological threats, the Secretary of Defense should direct the appropriate DOD officials to establish timelines and milestones for achieving identified chemical and biological infrastructure goals, including implementation of the 2008 PAIO recommendation that the CBDP Enterprise identify its required infrastructure capabilities.

    Agency Affected: Department of Defense

  3. Status: Open

    Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

    Recommendation: To improve the identification, alignment, and management of DOD's chemical and biological defense infrastructure and to fully institutionalize the use of risk assessments to support future investment decisions, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics to update the roles and responsibilities guidance in DOD Directive 5160.05E to identify which organizations are responsible for conducting and participating in CBDP Enterprise risk assessments.

    Agency Affected: Department of Defense

  4. Status: Open

    Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

    Recommendation: To improve the identification, alignment, and management of DOD's chemical and biological defense infrastructure and to fully institutionalize the use of risk assessments to support future investment decisions, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics to update the CBDP Enterprise's portfolio planning process, to include when risk assessments will be conducted.

    Agency Affected: Department of Defense

  5. Status: Open

    Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

    Recommendation: To improve the identification, alignment, and management of DOD's chemical and biological defense infrastructure and to enhance PAIO's ongoing analysis of potential infrastructure duplication in the CBDP Enterprise and gain potential efficiencies, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics to identify, request, and consider any information from existing infrastructure studies from other federal agencies with chemical and biological research and development and test and evaluation infrastructure.

    Agency Affected: Department of Defense

 

Explore the full database of GAO's Open Recommendations »

Apr 4, 2016

Mar 31, 2016

Mar 30, 2016

Mar 24, 2016

Mar 23, 2016

Mar 17, 2016

Mar 16, 2016

Mar 15, 2016

Mar 10, 2016

Mar 9, 2016

Looking for more? Browse all our products here