Reports News from the GAO http://www.gao.gov/press.html 2008-05-12T12:27:44+01:00 FeedCreator 1.7.2-ppt 2008-05-12T00:00:00+01:00 2008-05-12T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08519.pdf?source=ra

In Process

2008-05-09T00:00:00+01:00 2008-05-09T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08349.pdf?source=ra

Unreliable real property data has been a long-standing problem for federal landholding agencies. Under the President's real property initiative, agencies are being held accountable for, among other things, improving accuracy of their real property inventory and disposing of unneeded property. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), the fourth largest landholding agency, uses the Real Estate Management Information System (REMIS) for recording ...

2008-05-09T00:00:00+01:00 2008-05-09T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08594.pdf?source=ra

U. S. aquaculture--the raising of fish and shellfish in captivity--has generally been confined to nearshore coastal waters or in other water bodies, such as ponds, that fall under state regulation. Recently, there has been an increased interest in expanding aquaculture to offshore waters, which would involve raising fish and shellfish in the open ocean, and consequently bringing these types of operations under federal regulation. While ...

2008-05-08T00:00:00+01:00 2008-05-08T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08263.pdf?source=ra

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has relied on service acquisitions to meet its expansive mission. In fiscal year 2006, DHS spent $12.7 billion to procure services. To improve service acquisition outcomes, federal procurement law establishes a preference for a performance-based approach, which focuses on developing measurable outcomes rather than prescribing how contractors should perform services. GAO was asked to (1) evaluate ...

2008-05-08T00:00:00+01:00 2008-05-08T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08578.pdf?source=ra

Interagency contracting--using another agency's contracts or contracting services--can provide agencies with opportunities to streamline the procurement process and achieve savings. However, GAO designated the management of interagency contracting a high-risk area in 2005 due, in part, to a lack of reliable data on its use and of clarity regarding contract management responsibilities. In 2002, the Department of State (State) issued the ...

2008-05-08T00:00:00+01:00 2008-05-08T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08737t.pdf?source=ra

Millions of people rely on the services of Social Security Administration (SSA) field offices. In fiscal year 2007, SSA's approximately 1,300 field offices provided service to about 42 million customers. People use these offices to apply for Social Security cards, apply for retirement and disability benefits, establish direct deposit, and a host of other services. While customers may conduct their business using SSA's online, telephone, ...

2008-05-08T00:00:00+01:00 2008-05-08T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08758t.pdf?source=ra

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for overseeing direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising of prescription drugs, which includes a range of media, such as television, magazines, and the Internet. If FDA identifies a violation of laws or regulations in a DTC advertising material, the agency may issue a regulatory letter asking the drug company to take specific actions. In 2002, GAO reported on delays in FDA's issuance of regulatory ...

2008-05-08T00:00:00+01:00 2008-05-08T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08762t.pdf?source=ra

To address the challenges that the nation faces, it will be important for federal agencies to change their cultures and create the institutional capacity to become high-performing organizations. This includes recruiting and retaining a federal workforce able to create, sustain, and thrive in organizations that are flatter, results-oriented, and externally focused. In 2001, GAO identified strategic human capital management as a governmentwide ...

2008-05-08T00:00:00+01:00 2008-05-08T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08763t.pdf?source=ra

Physical infrastructure is critical to the nation's economy and affects the daily life of virtually all Americans--from facilitating the movement of goods and people within and beyond U.S. borders to providing clean drinking water. However, this infrastructure--including aviation, highway, transit, rail, water, and dam infrastructure--is under strain. Estimates to repair, replace, or upgrade aging infrastructure as well as expand capacity ...

2008-05-08T00:00:00+01:00 2008-05-08T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08765t.pdf?source=ra

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has relied on service acquisitions to meet its expansive mission. In fiscal year 2006, DHS spent $12.7 billion to procure services. To improve service acquisition outcomes, federal procurement policy establishes a preference for a performance-based approach, which focuses on developing measurable outcomes rather than prescribing how contractors should perform services. This testimony focuses on ...

2008-05-07T00:00:00+01:00 2008-05-07T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08486.pdf?source=ra

Since 2001, Labor has spent nearly $900 million on three workforce employment and training grant initiatives: High Growth Job Training Initiative (High Growth), Community-Based Job Training Initiative (Community Based), and the Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED). GAO was asked to examine (1) the intent of the grant initiatives and the extent to which Labor will be able to assess their effects, (2) the extent to ...

2008-05-07T00:00:00+01:00 2008-05-07T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08596.pdf?source=ra

With a workforce of about 35,000, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps) provides engineering services for civil works and military programs in the United States and overseas. Recently, the Corps' focus has shifted to also support contingency operations, such as responding to natural disasters. To meet its mission and emerging priorities, the Corps must have effective human capital planning processes to ensure that it can maintain ...

2008-05-07T00:00:00+01:00 2008-05-07T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08706t.pdf?source=ra

Collaboration between the federal government and the aviation industry has led to reductions in aviation emissions, but growing air traffic has partially offset these reductions. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), together with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and others, is working to increase the efficiency, safety, and capacity of the national airspace system ...