Skip to main content

Energy

Jump To:

Recent Reports

View More Reports

Open Recommendations

Fusion Energy: Additional Planning Would Strengthen DOE's Efforts to Facilitate Commercialization
GAO-25-107037
Jan 10, 2025
Show
1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Office of Science The Director of the Office of Science should finalize and implement ongoing fusion energy planning efforts, including by specifying roles and responsibilities, responding to identified risks, and detailing metrics and timelines for its initiatives. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Department of Energy Contracting: Actions Needed to Strengthen Certain Acquisition Planning Processes
GAO-25-106207
Nov 21, 2024
Show
12 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Energy The Director for DOE's Office of Acquisition Management should ensure that for non-M&O acquisitions, the Acquisition Guide clearly specifies what information should be included in the contract file to support how acquisition officials considered prior lessons learned during acquisition planning. (Recommendation 1)
Open
DOE agreed with the recommendation and said that its Office of Acquisition Management will revise the department's guidance to strengthen language regarding contract file documentation and how acquisition officials considered prior lessons learning. DOE expects to complete this update in 2025. We will follow up with DOE after it has taken action.
Department of Energy The Director for DOE's Office of Acquisition Management should develop a policy to ensure that DOE acquisition offices consistently document potential lessons learned identified during acquisition planning. (Recommendation 2)
Open
DOE agreed with the recommendation and said that its Office of Acquisition Management will revise the department's guidance on reviewing lessons learned during the acquisition planning process. DOE expects to complete this update in 2025. We will follow up with DOE after it has taken action.
National Nuclear Security Administration The Associate Administrator for NNSA's Office of Partnership and Acquisition Services should develop a policy to ensure that NNSA acquisition offices consistently document potential lessons learned identified during acquisition planning. (Recommendation 3)
Open
NNSA agreed with the recommendation and said that its Office of Partnership and Acquisition Services will coordinate with DOE to update its internal guidance as appropriate. NNSA expects to complete this update in 2025. We will follow up with NNSA after it has taken action.
Department of Energy The Director for DOE's Office of Acquisition Management should revise the source evaluation board lessons learned process described in the Acquisition Guide to ensure that it incorporates all leading practices. (Recommendation 4)
Open
DOE agreed with the recommendation and said that its Office of Acquisition Management will revise the department's guidance to incorporate leading lessons learned practices as appropriate. DOE expects to complete this update in 2025. We will follow up with DOE after it has taken action.
Department of Energy The Director of DOE's Office of Acquisition Management should develop guidance to ensure the accurate tracking of information on canceled solicitations in agency procurement systems. (Recommendation 5)
Open
DOE agreed with the recommendation and said that its Office of Acquisition Management will implement a reporting mechanism to track information on canceled solicitations. DOE expects to complete this update in 2025. We will follow up with DOE after it has taken action.
Department of Energy The Senior Advisor for the Office of Environmental Management should implement procedures to consistently record information on canceled solicitations so that the information is reliable and comprehensive. (Recommendation 6)
Open
DOE's Office of Environmental Management agreed with the recommendation and said it will follow guidance that DOE's Office of Acquisition Management plans to issue. EM expects to complete this action in 2025. We will follow up with EM after it has taken action.

Nuclear Waste Cleanup: DOE Should Use Available Information to Measure the Effectiveness of Its Groundwater Efforts
GAO-25-106938
Nov 19, 2024
Show
3 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Office of Environmental Management The Senior Advisor for the Office of Environmental Management should ensure that EM headquarters collects and uses comprehensive information on groundwater cleanup scope, cost, and schedule for all EM sites to enhance technical and policy support provided to sites and inform resource allocation decisions. (Recommendation 1)
Open
As of September 2024, DOE indicated that they are coordinating with sites to make groundwater-specific scope, cost, and schedule information available to headquarters and expect to implement the recommendation by September 30, 2025.
Office of Environmental Management The Senior Advisor for the Office of Environmental Management should establish groundwater cleanup strategic objectives and near-term performance goals for groundwater cleanup that cover all sites and more specifically guide sites' progress in meeting the groundwater cleanup requirements. (Recommendation 2)
Open
As of September 2024, DOE indicated that implementation actions were ongoing with an expected completion of September 30, 2026.
Office of Environmental Management The Senior Advisor for the Office of Environmental Management should develop and use performance metrics to regularly inform groundwater cleanup decisions and document progress toward cleanup goals. (Recommendation 3)
Open
As of September 2024, DOE indicated that implementation actions were ongoing with an expected completion date of April 30, 2027. Additionally, DOE will use the Tracking Restoration and Closure system as a tool to aid in the documentation of progress towards cleanup. According to officials, this tool is in the final stages of development.

Nuclear Waste Cleanup: Adopting Leading Practices Could Strengthen DOE's Engagement with Stakeholders and Governments
GAO-24-106014
Sep 09, 2024
Show
3 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Office of Environmental Management The Senior Advisor for the Office of Environmental Management should conduct and document an objective evaluation of the operation and effectiveness of EM's SSABs, including evaluating challenges related to the recruitment and appointment of board members, representation, and board attendance and member turnover. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Office of Environmental Management The Senior Advisor for the Office of Environmental Management should develop and use a national framework that defines EM's strategy for engagement with stakeholders and governments across the EM complex and that incorporates elements of leading practices for engagement. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Office of Environmental Management The Senior Advisor for the Office of Environmental Management, in coordination with EM site leadership, should develop engagement plans at the site or regional level that institutionalize expectations for how to engage stakeholders and governments with a cohesive voice and incorporate elements of leading practices for engagement. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
View More Recommendations

Related Pages

GAO Contacts