The procurement of a Burroughs Corporation B-4781 computer system for the Department of Agriculture's St. Louis Computer Center was reviewed.

The St. Louis Computer Center's data processing system has two computers and equipment that support, exclusively, the lending activities of the Farmers Home Administration. The procurement of a replacement computer system was not justified because the existing computer had sufficient capacity; the projected workload increases were overstated; improved use of computer resources would have enabled the Center to operate without the new computer system until consolidating with the Kansas City Computer Center and implementing a new management information system in fiscal year 1978; and implementation of suggested improvements could have resulted in annual savings of about $442,000.

Status Legend:

Review Pending-GAO has not yet assessed implementation status.

Open-Actions to satisfy the intent of the recommendation have not been taken or are being planned, or actions that partially satisfy the intent of the recommendation have been taken.

Closed-implemented-Actions that satisfy the intent of the recommendation have been taken.

Closed-not implemented-While the intent of the recommendation has not been satisfied, time or circumstances have rendered the recommendation invalid.

• Review Pending
• Open
• Closed - implemented
• Closed - not implemented

Recommendation for Executive Action

Recommendation: The Secretary of Agriculture should replace the 27 fixed head disk drives being leased by the Center with removable disk pack drives; acquire a front-end communications processor; require that the Center evaluate ways of making greater use of virtual memory in its application programs; discount using terminals to correct discrepancies and increase the use of the more efficient, less costly manual input system; and fully comply with Federal regulations before consolidating the St. Louis Center with the Kansas City Computer Center.

Agency Affected:

Status: Closed

Comments: Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.