Federal Catalog System: Continuing Item Identification Problems
NSIAD-88-121
Published: May 05, 1988. Publicly Released: Jun 01, 1988.
Skip to Highlights
Highlights
In response to a congressional request, GAO assessed the nature and extent of deficiencies in the Department of Defense's (DOD) Federal Catalog System.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, and the Director, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), to improve item identifications by: (1) expanding the list of approved item names and closely monitoring their use; (2) developing additional Federal Item Identification Guides and updating existing guides; (3) giving more attention to the Item Identification Improvement Program; (4) providing greater emphasis on working with contractors to have them more timely submit technical data; and (5) establishing more effective mechanisms for challenging contractor proprietary data claims and obtaining and entering technical data in the Federal Catalog System for items already cataloged, but inadequately described. |
DOD implemented a non-approved item name challenge system on November 1, 1988. Other actions are long-term.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, and the Director, DLA, to significantly reduce the number of duplicate items in the Federal Catalog System through such programs as the special DLSC study that identified duplication in the catalog, and exploring alternative ways to search out items that do not belong in the system. |
DLA has implemented the Digital Storage and Retrieval Engineering Data System to prevent item duplication.
|
Full Report
Public Inquiries
Topics
Competitive procurementDefense cost controlDefense procurementFederal supply systemsInformation systemsInventory control systemsMilitary inventoriesProperty and supply managementLogisticsMilitary forces