Relocation of Energy's Supercomputer

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the Department of Energy's (DOE) proposed relocation of its National Energy Research Supercomputer Center, focusing on: (1) the estimated costs of operating the supercomputer center at existing and new DOE locations; and (2) possible additional costs that may result from the planned move. GAO noted that: (1) preliminary cost estimates indicated that moving the supercomputer center would be cost-effective; (2) although the laboratories submitted similar cost proposals due to the 15 to 20 percent expected reduction in funding, Berkeley plans to provide more personnel than the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory by using less costly graduate students; and (3) estimated relocation costs may increase due to further personnel moves and department consolidations, possible office space remodeling, and the conversion of old laboratory space to new use.