Defense Computers: Issues Confronting DLA in Addressing Year 2000 Problems
AIMD-97-106
Published: Aug 12, 1997. Publicly Released: Aug 12, 1997.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Defense Logistics Agency's (DLA) program for solving its Year 2000 computer problem, focusing on the: (1) status of DLA's efforts to correct its Year 2000 problems; and (2) appropriateness of DLA's strategy and actions for ensuring that the problem will be successfully addressed.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Defense Logistics Agency | The Director, DLA, should require the completion of signed, written interface agreements between DLA and its interface partners that describe the method of data exchange between interfacing systems, the entity responsible for performing the system interface modification, and milestones identifying when the modification is to be completed. |
Closed – Implemented
DLA agreed with this recommendation and indicated that written interface agreements with all interface partners were completed during the first quarter of fiscal year 1998.
|
| Defense Logistics Agency | The Director, DLA, should require that DLA's business managers work with the DLA Chief Information Officer (CIO) to: (1) ensure that mission-related unique applications/systems are included in the Year 2000 inventory; (2) determine if the year 2000 is an issue for each system; and (3) assign responsibility to DLA Systems Design Center's Year 2000 program office for ensuring that all inventoried unique systems are made compliant by December 31, 1999. |
Closed – Implemented
DLA partially concurred with this recommendation and indicated that it had already been collecting information on its unique applications. It did not agree to assign responsibility for correcting these applications to the DLA Y2K Program Manager, but rather wanted to leave this responsibility with the Business Area Managers who own these applications and coordinate their correction with the Y2K Program Manager. According to the DLA Year 2000 program manager, the unique inventory was completed and assessed and remediation actions are under way as of the first quarter of fiscal year 1998.
|
| Defense Logistics Agency | The Director, DLA, should require that the DLA CIO, the Chief of Customer Support Team, and the DLA Systems Design Center Commander develop a Year 2000 systems prioritization, in conjunction with respective systems' customers. |
Closed – Implemented
DLA disagreed with this recommendation and indicated that it had already prioritized its systems for Y2K correction under the DOD guidance criteria.
|
| Defense Logistics Agency | For standard systems under control of the Systems Design Center, the Director, DLA, should require that the DLA CIO, the Chief of Customer Support Team, and the Center Commander, in coordination with respective systems' customers, develop and issue contingency plans for all critical systems. |
Closed – Implemented
DLA agreed with the recommendation to perform contingency planning for all standard, mission-critical systems within the agency. The DLA Y2K Program Manager reported that all mission-critical functions had completed contingency plans as of August 1998.
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Topics
Data integrityDefense operationsMission critical systemsInformation resources managementInformation systemsIT contingency plansSoftwareSoftware verification and validationStrategic information systems planningSystems conversionsY2K