Air Force ADP: The Personnel Concept III System Is Not Ready for Deployment
IMTEC-90-22
Published: Feb 27, 1990. Publicly Released: Feb 27, 1990.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Air Force's development of the Personnel Concept III (PC-III) system, focusing on whether: (1) the Air Force will fully develop and adequately test PC-III before deployment; (2) the Air Force chose the most cost-effective PC-III hardware option; and (3) projected personnel reductions the Air Force used to justify PC-III were valid.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | Since the Air Force has no assurance that PC-III as currently defined will best meet Air Force needs, the Secretary of Defense should not approve the purchase and installation of computer hardware to deploy PC-III until the Secretary of the Air Force ensures that a comprehensive evaluation of projected benefits (i.e., personnel reductions) is completed that justifies the system. |
The Department of Defense (DOD) has assessed the PC-III system as part of a broader initiative--Corporate Information Management (CIM). As a result, PC-III requirements, benefits, etc. will be incorporated into a DOD-wide civilian personnel system.
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| Department of Defense | Since the Air Force has no assurance that PC-III as currently defined will best meet Air Force needs, the Secretary of Defense should not approve the purchase and installation of computer hardware to deploy PC-III until the Secretary of the Air Force ensures that potential work loads are analyzed to determine the needed capacity, processing, and performance requirements for PC-III. |
DOD directed the Air Force to scrub the hardware requirement prior to seeking Major Automated Information Systems Review Committee (MAISRC) milestone III approval in June 1990. The House Appropriations Committee withheld fiscal year 1990 funding, $18.2 million, pending successful milestone III approval.
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| Department of Defense | Since the Air Force has no assurance that PC-III as currently defined will best meet Air Force needs, the Secretary of Defense should not approve the purchase and installation of computer hardware to deploy PC-III until the Secretary of the Air Force ensures that hardware alternatives are evaluated and the best and most cost-effective one is selected. |
DOD directed the Air Force to scrub the hardware requirements prior to seeking MAISRC milestone III approval in June 1990. DOD and the Air Force deferred implementation of the civilian portion of the system and are determining cost and operational impacts on system deployment.
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| Department of Defense | Since the Air Force has no assurance that PC-III as currently defined will best meet Air Force needs, the Secretary of Defense should not approve the purchase and installation of computer hardware to deploy PC-III until the Secretary of the Air Force ensures that an operational test and evaluation (OT&E) of the complete PC-III system is successfully completed to determine its operational effectiveness and suitability. |
The Air Force completed OT&E testing of partial systems as a prerequisite to MAISRC review and OT&E was successful for the military personnel portion of the system.
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| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should reinstate Major Automated Information System Review Committee oversight of PC-III. |
In concurrency with GAO and the House Appropriations Committee, the Office of the Secretary of Defense directed the Air Force to submit PC-III for MAISRC milestone III approval. MAISRC review was held in July 1990 and approved limited deployment.
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IT acquisitionsAir Force personnelAir Force procurementComputer equipment managementCost effectiveness analysisInformation systemsMilitary cost controlPersonnel managementReductions in forcePersonal computers