United States Synthetic Fuels Corporation's Project Selection Guidelines Need Clarification
EMD-81-129: Published: Aug 5, 1981. Publicly Released: Aug 5, 1981.
Additional Materials:
- Full Report:
Contact:
The project selection guidelines of the Synthetic Fuels Corporation (SFC) provide information on the process for evaluating proposals, the criteria to be used, and their relationship to the requirements of the Energy Security Act. GAO provided SFC with comments and recommendations for clarifying the guidelines and for implementing the selection process.
It appears that the guidelines are consistent with the Energy Security Act. However, GAO found that there is concern that they are so vague that industry sponsors may not have enough guidance to adequately prepare their proposals. It is unclear how SFC will use two levels of review consisting of project evaluation criteria and program-level evaluation criteria to achieve the Act's goals. Projects could compete among themselves as a group, or they could compete within smaller groups but potential sponsors should know the ground rules under which they must compete. Inherent with any two-level selection process is the fact that special care must be taken to ensure process integrity.
Recommendations for Executive Action
Status:
Comments: Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
Recommendation: SFC should establish a target date for beginning the review of mature projects. This date should allow adequate time for project sponsors to complete their proposals without unduly delaying the project selection process.
Agency Affected: United States Synthetic Fuels Corporation
Status:
Comments: Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
Recommendation: To ensure that project sponsors, State and local officials, and the general public have sufficient information to make decisions and to ensure the integrity of the selection process, SFC should clarify the project selection process by describing in greater detail how projects will be reviewed.
Agency Affected: United States Synthetic Fuels Corporation
Status:
Comments: Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
Recommendation: SFC should clarify how economic assumptions, such as inflation rates, interest rates, and the price of oil and gas, will be standardized so that the financial viability of a project can be assessed and compared with other projects.
Agency Affected: United States Synthetic Fuels Corporation
Status:
Comments: Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
Recommendation: SFC should maintain detailed documentation at each level of the project selection process.
Agency Affected: United States Synthetic Fuels Corporation
Explore the full database of GAO's Open Recommendations
»
Explore the full database of GAO's Open Recommendations
Dec 10, 2020
Uranium Management:
Actions to Mitigate Risks to Domestic Supply Chain Could Be Better Planned and CoordinatedGAO-21-28: Published: Dec 10, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 10, 2020.
Dec 8, 2020
-
Offshore Wind Energy:
Planned Projects May Lead to Construction of New Vessels in the U.S., but Industry Has Made Few Decisions amid UncertaintiesGAO-21-153: Published: Dec 8, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 8, 2020.
Nov 19, 2020
-
Nuclear Waste Disposal:
Better Planning Needed to Avoid Potential Disruptions at Waste Isolation Pilot PlantGAO-21-48: Published: Nov 19, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 19, 2020.
Oct 29, 2020
-
Nuclear Safety:
DOE and the Safety Board Should Collaborate to Develop a Written Agreement to Enhance OversightGAO-21-141: Published: Oct 29, 2020. Publicly Released: Oct 29, 2020.
Oct 15, 2020
-
Nuclear Weapons:
NNSA Plans to Modernize Critical Depleted Uranium Capabilities and Improve Program ManagementGAO-21-16: Published: Oct 15, 2020. Publicly Released: Oct 15, 2020.
Jul 24, 2020
-
Nuclear Weapons:
Action Needed to Address the W80-4 Warhead Program's Schedule ConstraintsGAO-20-409: Published: Jul 24, 2020. Publicly Released: Jul 24, 2020.
Jun 24, 2020
-
National Nuclear Security Administration:
Analyzing Cost Savings Program Could Result in Wider Use and Additional Contractor EfficienciesGAO-20-451: Published: Jun 24, 2020. Publicly Released: Jun 24, 2020.
Jun 9, 2020
-
Nuclear Weapons:
NNSA Needs to Incorporate Additional Management Controls Over Its Microelectronics ActivitiesGAO-20-357: Published: Jun 9, 2020. Publicly Released: Jun 9, 2020.
May 13, 2020
-
Environmental Liabilities:
DOE Needs to Better Plan for Post-Cleanup Challenges Facing SitesGAO-20-373: Published: May 13, 2020. Publicly Released: May 13, 2020.
May 12, 2020
-
Hanford Waste Treatment Plant:
DOE Is Pursuing Pretreatment Alternatives, but Its Strategy Is Unclear While Costs Continue to RiseGAO-20-363: Published: May 12, 2020. Publicly Released: May 12, 2020.
Looking for more? Browse all our products here
Explore our Key Issues on Energy
- Air Quality
- Climate Change Funding and Management
- Climate Change Response
- Department of Energy's Contract Management for the National Nuclear Security Administration and Office of Environmental Management - High Risk Issue
- Economic Sanctions
- Electricity Markets, Grid Security and Resilience
- Hardrock Mining on Federal Lands
- Improving Federal Programs that Serve Tribes and Their Members - High Risk Issue
- Limiting the Federal Government's Fiscal Exposure by Better Managing Climate Change Risks - High Risk Issue
- Management of Federal Oil and Gas Resources - High Risk Issue
- Managing Federal Lands and Waters
- Nuclear Energy
- Nuclear Nonproliferation
- Nuclear Waste Disposal
- Nuclear Weapons and Forces Sustainment and Modernization
- Oil, Natural Gas, and Alternative Fuels
- Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Security of Radioactive Materials
- Tribal and Native American Issues
- Understanding Climate Change
- U.S. Arctic Interests
Explore our other Key Issues here
