Coast Guard: Management of the Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Program Needs Strengthening
RCED-93-157
Published: May 25, 1993. Publicly Released: Jun 24, 1993.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Coast Guard's Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) Program, focusing on whether the Coast Guard has adequate: (1) policies and procedures for selecting RDT&E projects; and (2) management tools to effectively manage its research and development (R&D) center.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Transportation | The Secretary of Transportation should direct the Commandant of the Coast Guard to revise the Coast Guard's definition of RDT&E to ensure that it clearly distinguishes the types of projects that are appropriately RDT&E to assist Coast Guard managers in selecting RDT&E projects. |
On August 10, 1994, the Coast Guard issued a Commandant Instruction prescribing the appropriation definition and use of RDT&E funds.
|
| Department of Transportation | The Secretary of Transportation should direct the Commandant of the Coast Guard to establish a long-range plan that identifies the Coast Guard's RDT&E goals and mission priorities. |
The Coast Guard promulgated its first long-range plan in September 1994.
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| Department of Transportation | The Secretary of Transportation should direct the Commandant of the Coast Guard to continue the agency's efforts to acquire for the R&D Center a management information system that is cost-beneficial and that will provide accurate, complete, and timely information for decision-making and program monitoring. |
The Coast Guard conducted a cost-benefit analysis for the acquisition of a management information system for the agency's R&D center. The Coast Guard included a funding request in its fiscal year (FY) 1996 proposed budget to procure the management information system. The system was fully implemented in FY 1998.
|
| Department of Transportation | The Secretary of Transportation should direct the Commandant of the Coast Guard to establish procedures to evaluate or measure the impact of RDT&E projects on Coast Guard operations. |
The Coast Guard established both measures of performance for the R&D Program and measures of effectiveness in November 1994.
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Topics
Cost-based budgetingInternal controlsManagement information systemsProgram evaluationResearch and developmentResearch and development facilitiesResearch program managementTransportation researchMilitary forcesDevelopmental testing