Weather Forecasting: Important Issues on Automated Weather Processing System Need Resolution
IMTEC-93-12BR
Published: Jan 06, 1993. Publicly Released: Feb 08, 1993.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the National Weather Service's (NWS) acquisition of the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS), focusing on: (1) how effectively the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) analyzed and defined its system requirements; (2) key risks associated with the acquisition; and (3) whether any risks warranted delay of the contract award.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Commerce | To help ensure the successful development of AWIPS and minimize the risk of cost and schedule growth, the Secretary of Commerce should ensure that the actions planned by the NOAA Systems Program Office adequately resolve the outstanding issues described in this report before the AWIPS design is approved and significant software development begins. |
Closed – Implemented
Actions were completed on one of the six specific components of GAO's recommendation--a configuration management plan was developed. However, the other five components were still outstanding issues prior to the AWIPS program restructuring that occurred due to managerial and technical problems. A new AWIPS contract was signed in August 1995 to reflect this restructuring. GAO closed this recommendation because the restructuring changed the AWIPS program from the time that it was evaluated and this recommendation was made in late 1992.
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IT acquisitionsCost overrunsEarth resources satellitesRadar equipmentRequirements definitionSystems designWeather forecastingConfiguration controlSoftware engineeringCommerce