Computer Procurement: Navy CAD/CAM Acquisition Has Merit but Management Improvements Needed
IMTEC-88-22
Published: May 11, 1988. Publicly Released: May 11, 1988.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Navy's second Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM II) acquisition, focusing on whether the: (1) Navy complied with applicable acquisition regulations; (2) Navy considered the needs of all CAD/CAM users; (3) Navy established adequate contract administration controls; (4) correct Navy organizations conducted the acquisition; (5) Navy fully disclosed the acquisition in its budget requests and followed normal budget processes; and (6) Office of the Secretary of Defense provided adequate oversight.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of the Navy | The Secretary of the Navy should direct the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Financial Management to ensure that the request for proposals for CAD/CAM II is not released until the program office has complied with applicable provisions of defense acquisition regulations; specifically, the program office should conduct an evaluation of alternative system solutions based on validated user requirements before making a system choice. |
Closed – Implemented
The Navy reduced the acquisition to one of the strictly commercially available, off-the-shelf technology, and as a consequence, the acquisition now falls under Defense guidance governing requirements contracts. The Navy has complied with this guidance.
|
| Department of the Navy | The Secretary of the Navy should direct the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Financial Management to ensure that future program office and program manager changes to CAD/CAM II are minimized and program management issues are quickly resolved. |
Closed – Implemented
The Navy CAD/CAM program office has been moved to NAVDAC. No further moves are contemplated. A senior management Steering Group has been established to resolve management issues.
|
| Department of the Navy | The Secretary of the Navy should direct the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Financial Management to ensure that funding for all Navy CAD/CAM is completely and accurately disclosed in special budget information papers to Congress. |
Closed – Implemented
The Naval Data Automation Command Comptroller will prepare comprehensive and complete funding data on all CAD/CAM acquisitions prior to the FY 1990 budget submission to the Office of the Secretary of Defense and Congress.
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Topics
IT acquisitionsCAMManagement information systemsMilitary budgetsNaval procurementNoncomplianceProcurement regulationsReporting requirementsMilitary forcesEngineering