General Services Administration: Better Data and Oversight Needed to Improve Construction Management
GGD-94-145
Published: Jun 27, 1994. Publicly Released: Jun 27, 1994.
Skip to Highlights
Highlights
GAO reviewed the General Services Administration's (GSA) management of its building construction and repair program, focusing on: (1) the number and associated costs of contract modifications; (2) the reasons for the modifications; and (3) whether any of the modifications could have been avoided.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| General Services Administration | The Administrator of General Services should direct the Commissioner, Public Building Service (PBS), to improve construction program oversight by ensuring that any new management information system provides readily available, complete, and accurate information that will allow systematic analysis of contract cost growth and the reasons why cost growth occurs on all contracts associated with each construction project. |
Closed – Implemented
In November 1997, GSA began using two new management information systems -- the Inventory Reporting and Information System (IRIS) and the Project Manager's Toolbox (PMT). IRIS is a management information system with four components, including PMT, that allows management to track construction projects from scope of work to completion and identifies the reasons for cost growth.
|
| General Services Administration | The Administrator of General Services should direct the Commissioner, PBS, to develop criteria for defining an acceptable level of cost growth for all contracts related to new construction, modernization, and repair and alteration projects to measure cost growth, evaluate contract performance, and identify potential problem areas. |
Closed – Implemented
In November 1997, GSA began using two new management information systems, IRIS and PMT. IRIS is a management information system with four components, including PMT, that allows management to track construction projects from scope of work to completion and identifies the reasons for cost growth.
|
| General Services Administration | The Administrator of General Services should direct the Commissioner, PBS, to systematically and periodically evaluate contract changes to identify the causes for design and planning problems, implement approaches for resolving those problems, and develop strategies for strengthening the design and planning process so problems do not recur. |
Closed – Implemented
In November 1997, GSA began using its new management information system, IRIS. IRIS provides GSA with the capability to systematically and periodically evaluate contract changes and identify causes for design and planning problems.
|
Full Report
Office of Public Affairs
Topics
ArchitectsConstruction contractsConstruction costsContract administrationContract modificationsContract optionsCost overrunsGovernment facility constructionManagement information systemsPlanning