Economic Development:

DOE's Three Restricted Reserves of Unobligated Funds

RCED-96-208R, Aug 8, 1996

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GAO reviewed the Department of Energy's (DOE) three restricted reserves of unobligated funds. GAO noted that: (1) DOE established the reserves to respond to unforeseen departmental funding requirements; (2) these reserves include the Prior-Year Deobligation Reserve, the Prior-Year Cost Adjustment Reserve, and the Project Overrun Reserve; (3) the reserves are composed of deobligated funds that no longer have a defined need and are unavailable for use unless released by DOE; (4) DOE has not consistently followed its own criteria for placing funds in or using funds from the reserves; (5) funds have been allocated from the reserves without proper documentation and for purposes that do not meet the DOE criteria; and (6) reserve guidelines need to be revised to better reflect departmental needs.

Status Legend:

More Info
  • 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

    Recommendations for Executive Action

    Recommendation: The Acting Chief Financial Officer, DOE, should clarify the purpose for the Prior-Year Deobligation Reserve, the Prior-Year Cost Adjustment Reserve, and the Project Overrun Reserve and revise, as necessary, the criteria governing the three reserves.

    Agency Affected: Department of Energy: Office of the Chief Financial Officer

    Status: Closed - Implemented

    Comments: After reviewing its existing policies and guidance related to the Prior-Year Deobligation Reserve, the Prior-Year Cost Adjustment Reserve, and the Project Overrun Reserve, DOE's Director, Office of Budget issued new guidance on December 26, 1996. The guidance established the criteria governing the restricted reserves and was provided to staff analysts that review/assess Headquarters program office requests for use of the subject funds.

    Recommendation: The Acting Chief Financial Officer, DOE, should instruct officials within his office to place a high priority on following the criteria and better documenting that the criteria have been followed.

    Agency Affected: Department of Energy: Office of the Chief Financial Officer

    Status: Closed - Implemented

    Comments: The revised guidance emphasizes the importance of ensuring that requests for use of funds from the reserves adhere to the established policies and criteria and that related supporting documentation is adequate and credible. In order to obtain better cooperation and assistance in improving administration of the subject funding, the guidance was also provided to cognizant headquarters program organizations.