Information Technology: Department of Energy Does Not Effectively Manage Its Supercomputers
RCED-98-208
Published: Jul 17, 1998. Publicly Released: Jul 17, 1998.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Energy's (DOE) acquisition and use of supercomputers, focusing on the: (1) number and cost of the supercomputers DOE acquired in fiscal years (FY) 1994 through 1997 and the number and proposed funding for planned major supercomputer acquisitions in FY 1998 through FY 2000; (2) stated need for DOE's supercomputers, the utilization rates for them, and the potential for facilities to share these resources; and (3) process DOE and its contractors employ to validate the need for additional supercomputers and how that process contrasts with the technology investment process set forth in the Clinger-Cohen Act.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Energy | The Secretary of Energy should adopt an approach to information technology investment and oversight that meets the criteria set out in the Clinger-Cohen Act. Specifically, under such an approach, DOE should adopt a process for acquiring scientific information technology that: (1) pertains to all Department-funded supercomputers; (2) ensures, prior to providing funds for the acquisition of any new supercomputers, that a written justification clearly demonstrates the need, addresses the benefits of acquiring the subject supercomputer, and allows for meaningful comparison with alternative investments; and (3) includes a laboratory-specific analysis of the utilization of existing supercomputers and an analysis of the potential to share supercomputers with other sites or programs. |
Closed – Implemented
Action taken is not fully responsive. DOE maintains separate review and approval tracks for administrative and scientific information technology (IT) investments. Consequently, investments in scientific IT systems are reviewed and approved by the same program offices that have a vested interest in acquiring the system. As pointed out in GAO's report, this does not meet the independent review and oversight envisioned in the Clinger-Cohen Act.
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| Department of Energy | The Secretary of Energy should designate the Department's most ambitious acquisitions of supercomputer systems--such as those in the ASCI program--as strategic systems warranting oversight at the highest departmental level. |
Closed – Implemented
No action has been taken as yet. DOE disagreed with this recommendation stating that the Accelerated Strategic Computing Initiative (ASCI) was already receiving high-level oversight. In a subsequent report, GAO found that there were significant problems in the Department's oversight of this program (GAO/RCED-99-195, June 1999).
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IT acquisitionsChief information officersFuture budget projectionsInformation resources managementInteragency relationsResearch and development facilitiesStrategic information systems planningSupercomputersInformation technologySupercomputing