Defense Computers: Army Needs to Greatly Strengthen Its Year 2000 Program

The Army has corrected the systemic problems such as erroneous database default values, but still continues to perform other quality assurance checks of the data prior to the data's submission to OSD, OMB, and Congress. Nevertheless, GAO views the action taken as completed because the Army has addressed the intent of the recommendation.

The Army Year 2000 Project Office, in response to Secretary of the Army and Army CIO direction, has continuously monitored Army component year 2000 progress. As of October 1, 1998, the Army Year 2000 Project Office reported that the Army had completed and approved all memoranda of agreement for all mission critical systems' data exchanges.

The Army hired a contractor to determine if test capacity due to year 2000 would be a problem for the Army. The contractor prepared a report which concluded that test capacity was not a problem for the Army. The study methodology and conclusions were briefed to both the Director of Information Systems for Command, Control, Communications, and Computers (DISC4) and the Army Studies Program in late 1998.

The Army CIO conducted senior-level reviews with all commanders, Program Executive Officers, and functional proponents to require each to ensure that: (1) inventory databases are accurate and complete; (2) all claims of year 2000 compliance are certified and that completed certification checklists are submitted to the Army Year 2000 Project Office; (3) reliable year 2000 cost estimates are prepared; (4) contingency plans that include specific actions for ensuring the continuity of the Army's critical operations at the year 2000 are prepared; (5) memorandums of agreement for all identified interfaces are prepared; and (6) test plans are developed and additional testing resources are identified. All of the senior-level reviews were completed by October 31, 1998.