Postal Service:
Automation Is Taking Longer and Producing Less Than Expected
GGD-95-89BR: Published: Feb 22, 1995. Publicly Released: Feb 22, 1995.
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GAO reviewed the status of the U.S. Postal Service's (USPS) mail automation efforts, focusing on USPS use of optical scanning technology to: (1) barcode all letter mail; (2) sort mail to individual addresses; and (3) adjust work methods to reduce the postal workforce.
GAO found that: (1) USPS faces difficult and maybe insurmountable obstacles to successfully completing its automation program by its 1998 target date; (2) USPS problems are compounded by opposition to the expanded zip code and the decentralization of the automation program; (3) barcoding and automatic sorting of letter mail to individual addresses is more difficult than expected and is behind schedule; (4) the shortfall in barcoding is due to optical scanners' difficulty in reading nonstandard envelopes and addresses and the delayed deployment of remote barcoding; (5) current postal incentives favor presorting of mail by mailers, which defeats delivery point sequencing because presorted mail must be merged before delivery; (6) most mailers have no incentive to use barcodes, since they are ineligible for barcode discounts or face cumbersome preparation requirements; (7) because of USPS failure to meet the barcoding target date and to include multiple occupant buildings in delivery point sequencing, carriers have not been able to reduce their in-office hours and adjust their delivery routes; (8) automation savings are small and difficult to achieve; (9) USPS has not reduced its workforce as expected and career employment is increasing rather than decreasing; and (10) more business mail is being diverted to electronic delivery methods, which will likely diminish the benefits of automation.
Jan 13, 2021
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Department of Energy Contracting:
Improvements Needed to Ensure DOE Assesses Its Full Range of Contracting Fraud RisksGAO-21-44: Published: Jan 13, 2021. Publicly Released: Jan 13, 2021.
Dec 16, 2020
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Data Governance:
Agencies Made Progress in Establishing Governance, but Need to Address Key MilestonesGAO-21-152: Published: Dec 16, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 16, 2020.
Dec 9, 2020
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2020 Census:
The Bureau Concluded Field Work but Uncertainty about Data Quality, Accuracy, and Protection RemainsGAO-21-206R: Published: Dec 9, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 9, 2020.
Dec 3, 2020
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2020 Census:
Census Bureau Needs to Assess Data Quality Concerns Stemming from Recent Design ChangesGAO-21-142: Published: Dec 3, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 3, 2020. -
2020 Census:
Census Bureau Needs to Ensure Transparency over Data QualityGAO-21-262T: Published: Dec 3, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 3, 2020.
Nov 30, 2020
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Federal Buying Power:
OMB Can Further Advance Category Management Initiative by Focusing on Requirements, Data, and TrainingGAO-21-40: Published: Nov 30, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 30, 2020.
Nov 24, 2020
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Disaster Response:
Agencies Should Assess Contracting Workforce Needs and Purchase Card Fraud RiskGAO-21-42: Published: Nov 24, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 24, 2020.
Nov 23, 2020
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Federal Contracting:
Actions Needed to Improve Department of Labor's Enforcement of Service Worker Wage ProtectionsGAO-21-11: Published: Oct 29, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 23, 2020.
Nov 18, 2020
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Federal Telework:
Key Practices That Can Help Ensure the Success of Telework ProgramsGAO-21-238T: Published: Nov 18, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 18, 2020.
Oct 7, 2020
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Unaccompanied Children:
Actions Needed to Improve Grant Application Reviews and Oversight of Care FacilitiesGAO-20-609: Published: Sep 15, 2020. Publicly Released: Oct 7, 2020.
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