Reclamation Law:
Changes Needed Before Water Service Contracts Are Renewed
T-RCED-92-13: Published: Oct 29, 1991. Publicly Released: Oct 29, 1991.
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GAO discussed changes the Department of Interior needs to make before it renews long-term water service contracts in the Bureau of Reclamation's Central Valley Project (CVP), focusing on environmental and water use problems associated with irrigation practices carried out under these contracts. GAO noted that environmental and water use problems associated with irrigation practices carried out under such existing contracts included: (1) selenium poisoning and increasing salinity in the CVP San Joaquin Valley; (2) farmers' use of CVP water to produce crops that are also eligible for subsidies under federal agricultural programs; and (3) an inadequate water supply for wildlife habitat because 85 percent of CVP water is dedicated to irrigation under the contracts. GAO also noted that: (1) since Interior is currently renewing CVP water service contracts without making substantial changes, such problems are likely to continue, and irrigators will have little incentive to use water more efficiently; (2) because the long-term contracts will commit water to irrigation, the increasing demands of California's growing population may not be met; (3) since Interior believes that long-term contract renewal for the same quantity of water is mandated by law, it does not plan to change its contract terms regarding long-term duration and quantity; and (4) Interior is renewing contracts without conducting a thorough analysis of the environmental, economic, and water use impacts of renewal and the alternatives.
Feb 3, 2021
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Fixed-Price-Incentive Contracts:
DOD Has Increased Their Use but Should Assess Contributions to OutcomesGAO-21-181: Published: Feb 3, 2021. Publicly Released: Feb 3, 2021.
Jan 29, 2021
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Federal Real Property:
Additional Documentation of Decision Making Could Improve Transparency of New Disposal ProcessGAO-21-233: Published: Jan 29, 2021. Publicly Released: Jan 29, 2021.
Jan 19, 2021
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Federal Rulemaking:
Selected EPA and HHS Regulatory Analyses Met Several Best Practices, but CMS Should Take Steps to Strengthen Its AnalysesGAO-21-151: Published: Dec 17, 2020. Publicly Released: Jan 19, 2021.
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.
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