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Energy Information: Department of Energy Security Program Needs Effective Information Systems

IMTEC-92-10 Published: Oct 22, 1991. Publicly Released: Nov 27, 1991.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed information systems that support the Department of Energy's (DOE) security program, focusing on whether: (1) key information systems provide security managers with the information they need to ensure an effective security program; and (2) changes are needed to improve more efficient and effective systems.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Energy The Secretary of Energy should assign to a single organization the leadership responsibility to plan and manage security information resources departmentwide and ensure that this organization has the authority to integrate and reconcile the needs of various security organizations.
Closed – Implemented
Although DOE agreed with the recommendation, the Department has not fully implemented it. DOE has a departmentwide security information system, the Safeguards and Security Information Management System. DOE believes that this system helps staff to plan and manage security information resources departmentwide. An informal working group oversees this system. However, because the senior designated official for IRM oversees all IRM activities, DOE does not believe that it needs to designate a single organization to manage security information resources. DOE does not intend to take further action on this recommendation.
Department of Energy The Secretary of Energy should direct this organization to work with responsible program offices, field offices, contractors, and departmental IRM officials to: (1) make a comprehensive, strategic assessment of departmentwide information and information technology needs for the security program; and (2) develop an information architecture that efficiently and effectively supports departmentwide missions and goals.
Closed – Implemented
Although DOE agreed with this recommendation, DOE did not fully implement it. DOE did not write a separate strategic plan for the security program as GAO recommended. Instead, it input information to its Information Management Strategic Plan, issued in July 1994. DOE does not plan any further action on this recommendation.
Department of Energy The Secretary of Energy should ensure that the Director of Administration and Human Resources Management, the designated senior IRM official, provides the leadership needed to: (1) link security information planning activities to the DOE overall strategic IRM planning process; and (2) ensure that responsible managers acquire and implement information systems that conform to the data and technology requirements of the architecture.
Closed – Implemented
Although DOE agreed with the recommendation, DOE did not fully respond to it. DOE issued its strategic IRM plan in July 1994; however, this plan does not address security information planning activities separately from other IRM activities. Further, DOE has not yet developed an overall IRM architecture. DOE plans no further action on this recommendation.

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Contract performanceInformation systemsInternal controlsIT acquisitionsNuclear facility securityPublic administrationSystems compatibilityAutomated security systemsInformation technologyInformation resources management