Better Information Management Could Alleviate Oversight Problems With the GSA Construction Program

PLRD-82-87 Published: Jul 09, 1982. Publicly Released: Jul 19, 1982.

Highlights

GAO was asked to review the General Services Administration's (GSA) Public Buildings Service's ability to provide accurate and timely information on construction.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected	Recommendation	Status
General Services Administration	The Administrator of General Services should conduct a post-implementation system review of the Repair and Alteration and Construction Automated Tracking System (RACATS) to determine whether it should be redesigned to collect and analyze all the data necessary to provide complete project performance information or whether a more suitable existing system should be acquired.	Closed – Implemented When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
General Services Administration	The Administrator of General Services should require that the Commissioner of the Public Buildings Service enforce adherence to Federal Information Processing Standards by user organizations.	Closed – Implemented When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
General Services Administration	The Administrator of General Services should require that regions document all nonstandard RACATS programs fully and that the regions submit this documentation to the central office where it will be kept on file for control purposes.	Closed – Implemented When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
General Services Administration	The Administrator of General Services should require that a full and complete inventory be made of all nonstandard programs and that a listing of all available programs be disseminated to be regions.	Closed – Implemented When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
General Services Administration	The Administrator of General Services should acquire computer graphics capability which is cost effective to eliminate extensive, manual efforts expended in preparing management reports.	Closed – Implemented When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
General Services Administration	The Administrator of General Services should correct the input error problem through training, and possibly by acquiring better input devices, such as optical readers or other new input technology.	Closed – Implemented When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
General Services Administration	The Commissioner of the Public Buildings Service and the designated information resources manager of GSA should correct and improve RACATS so that it adequately fulfills the current needs of the agency or acquire another existing system which will fulfill its needs.	Closed – Implemented When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
General Services Administration	The Commissioner of the Public Buildings Service and the designated information resources manager of GSA should require Service managers to use whichever system is ultimately selected for agency use.	Closed – Implemented When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
General Services Administration	The Commissioner of the Public Buildings Service and the designated information resources manager of GSA should enforce the timely input of required data into the selected system.	Closed – Implemented When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
General Services Administration	The Administrator of General Services should appoint a senior official experienced in information management as the permanent information resources manager, designated at assistant administrator or equivalent level, reporting directly to him, with the sole responsibilities of this official being to implement the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 and assume all the duties required by the Act.	Closed – Implemented When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
General Services Administration	The Administrator of General Services should require top management's involvement and cooperation in information resources management (IRM) and emphasize the senior IRM official's authority over all IRM activities at GSA.	Closed – Implemented When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
General Services Administration	The Administrator of General Services should establish a central IRM office, headed by the senior official, consolidating existing offices. This office should include such IRM-related subcomponents as deemed necessary for the senior official to carry out his/her responsibilities.	Closed – Implemented When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

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Topics

Information Management

Electronic data processingAgency missionsCost effectiveness analysisGovernment facility constructionInformation resources managementPolicy evaluationProgram evaluationInformation managementAccounting systemsPaperwork reduction