Data Collection Under the International Agreement on Government Procurement Could Be More Accurate and Efficient
Highlights
The trade data system, established to collect data on U.S. Government procurement activity under the international Agreement on Government Procurement, is not functioning properly. Since the development of a system capable of collecting precise data would be difficult, the system collects approximate information on procurements covered by the agreement. However, the system did not perform even up to its limited capabilities in developing the 1981 data. It developed information that significantly overvalued covered procurements and did not fully report other essential information. Given the limited resources available and the low priority the collecting agencies place on the trade data system, GAO suggested to agency officials that they could best improve the accuracy and efficiency of this data collection effort by abolishing the trade data system and using the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) to collect this data. The agencies have taken steps toward implementing this suggestion.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Management and Budget | The Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) should direct the Administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) to work with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the Federal Procurement Data Center (FPDC), and the Federal Procurement Data System Policy Board to abolish the trade data system and use FPDS to collect the individual contract data, including the establishment of a separate system to collect data on covered contracts made with nonappropriated funds and the use of an alphabetic code to designate domestic source procurements. |
Closed – Implemented
An accomplishment report, A-NSIAD-84-22, approved April 2, 1984, shows nonmeasurable financial savings.
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| Office of Management and Budget | The Director of OMB should direct the Administrator of OFPP to work with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the FPDC, and the FPDS Policy Board to revise the current reporting regulations to give agencies unable to collect accurate letter report information guidance on acceptable methods for estimating this information. |
Closed – Not Implemented
GSA officials initially told GAO that it planned to take action on this recommendation as part of an overhaul of the system used to collect information on federal procurements. However, the deadline for completion has continually slipped and officials are now reluctant to say when, if ever, it will act on this. Further GAO monitoring would not have any additional influence on GSA action.
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| Other | The U.S. Trade Representative and the Administrator of General Services should take actions necessary to ensure that the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and FPDC jointly develop user requirements for compiling trade data. |
Closed – Implemented
An accomplishment report, A-NSIAD-84-22, approved April 2, 1984, shows nonmeasurable financial savings.
|
| General Services Administration | The U.S. Trade Representative and the Administrator of General Services should take actions necessary to ensure that the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and FPDC jointly develop user requirements for compiling trade data. |
Closed – Implemented
An accomplishment report, A-NSIAD-84-22, approved April 2, 1984, describes the improved operations.
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