GAO Reports
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GAO Issues Report on 2020 Census
WASHINGTON, July 28 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on the extent to which the Census Bureau is using leading practices for scheduling key projects. The report (GAO-18-589) is titled "2020 Census: Bureau Has Made Progress with Its Scheduling, but Further Improvement Will Help Inform Management Decisions".
The report was sent to Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin, chairman, Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Missouri, ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental
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WASHINGTON, July 28 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on the extent to which the Census Bureau is using leading practices for scheduling key projects. The report (GAO-18-589) is titled "2020 Census: Bureau Has Made Progress with Its Scheduling, but Further Improvement Will Help Inform Management Decisions".
The report was sent to Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin, chairman, Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Missouri, ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and GovernmentalAffairs subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management, Sen. Thomas Carper, D-Delaware, Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-South Carolina, chairman, and Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, D-Maryland, ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, on July 26. Here are excerpts of summaries associated with the report.
What GAO Found: "The three census project schedules GAO reviewed better reflect characteristics of a reliable schedule compared to a GAO schedule assessment performed in 2013, but weaknesses remain. GAO reviewed three projects that contribute to two of the Census Bureau's (Bureau) largest field operations--address canvassing and nonresponse follow-up. The schedules for all three projects are better constructed and more credible than previously reviewed project schedules. For example, the Bureau has improved the logic of the relationship between activities, and better ensured that all schedules are linked together in a master schedule so that their interactions can be better managed.
However, the three selected schedules have some of the same weaknesses GAO identified in other Bureau schedules in 2009 and 2013. For example, none of the selected schedules contain information on resource needs and availability. GAO has reported that such information assists program offices in forecasting the likelihood that activities will be completed as scheduled. It can also help management compute total labor and equipment hours, calculate total project and per-period cost, resolve resource conflicts, and establish the reasonableness of the plan. If the schedule does not allow insight into current or projected allocation of resources, then the likelihood is significantly increased that the program may slip or need additional resources to complete on time.
In GAO's 2009 review of the Bureau's schedule, GAO recommended that the Bureau include in the 2020 master schedule estimates of the resources, such as labor, materials, and overhead costs for each activity as the 2020 schedule was built. The Department of Commerce did not respond to the recommendation at that time. Then, regarding GAO's 2013 assessment of the Bureau's schedule, Bureau officials stated that they hoped to begin identifying the resources needed for each activity in their schedules by early 2014. However, as of May 2018, the Bureau had not taken these steps. Senior Bureau officials have now stated that it would require additional staffing in order to plan for and implement this recommendation.
Additionally, the Bureau has not conducted risk assessments for the project schedules GAO assessed. Schedule risk analysis--the systematic analysis of "what if" scenarios--is an established leading practice. Risk assessments are needed to determine the likelihood of the project's completion date; how much schedule risk contingency is needed to provide an acceptable level of certainty for completion by a specific date; risks most likely to delay the project; how much contingency reserve each risk requires; and the paths or activities that are most likely to delay the project.
In 2013, GAO recommended the Bureau conduct risk assessments for its schedules. The Bureau said it had no disagreement with this recommendation. However, while Senior Bureau officials stated that a schedule risk assessment plan and process were approved by Bureau management in late May 2018, it has not yet implemented this recommendation.
GAO believes that these prior recommendations still apply and can help the Bureau improve the reliability of its 2020 schedule."
Why GAO Did This Study: "The Bureau is required by law to count the population as of April 1, 2020; deliver state apportionment counts to the President by December 31, 2020; and provide redistricting data to the states within 1 year of Census Day, April 1, 2021. To meet these statutory deadlines, the Bureau carries out hundreds of projects, which it manages with an integrated master schedule. Because census operations need to proceed in concert with one another, significant delays could propagate to other activities resulting in increased costs, reduced operational quality, or changes to the design of the census in order to compensate for lost time.
This report determines the extent to which the Bureau is using leading practices for scheduling key projects.
GAO selected three projects for review based on their cost and in-progress status. GAO analyzed schedules and their supporting documents against GAO's Schedule Assessment Guide. GAO also spoke with relevant Bureau officials regarding the three selected projects.
GAO provided a draft of this report to the Department of Commerce, which agreed with the findings."
The text of the GAO report is available at https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-18-589?utm_campaign=usgao_email&utm_content=daybook&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
GAO Issues Report on Historically Black Colleges & Universities
WASHINGTON, July 27 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on Historically Black Colleges and Universities Capital Financing Program. The report (GAO-18-455) is titled "Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Action Needed to Improve Participation in Education's HBCU Capital Financing Program".
The report was sent to Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, Sen. Robert P. Casey Jr., D-Pennsylvania, ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions subcommittee on Children and Families,
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WASHINGTON, July 27 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on Historically Black Colleges and Universities Capital Financing Program. The report (GAO-18-455) is titled "Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Action Needed to Improve Participation in Education's HBCU Capital Financing Program".
The report was sent to Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, Sen. Robert P. Casey Jr., D-Pennsylvania, ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions subcommittee on Children and Families,Rep. Robert C. Scott, D-Virginia, ranking member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, and Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-North Carolina, on June 26. Here are excerpts of summaries associated with the report.
What GAO Found: "Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), stakeholders, and planning documents identified extensive and diverse capital project needs at HBCUs and GAO found HBCUs rely on a few funding sources--such as state appropriations and tuition and fees--to address those needs. HBCUs responding to GAO's survey reported that 46 percent of their building space, on average, needs repair or replacement. Based on a review of master plans--which assess the condition of HBCU facilities--and visits to nine HBCUs, GAO identified significant capital project needs in the areas of deferred maintenance, facilities modernization, and preservation of historic buildings. The Department of Education's (Education) HBCU Capital Financing Program has provided access to needed funding for some HBCUs and has helped modernize their facilities to improve student recruitment. However, fewer than half of HBCUs have used the program, according to Education data, which was specifically designed to help them address capital project needs (see figure).
(Figure Omitted)
Note: The Department of Education's HBCU Capital Financing program provides low-cost loans to eligible HBCUs.
Education has undertaken several efforts to help HBCUs access and participate in the HBCU Capital Financing Program. For example, Education conducts outreach through attending conferences. However, some HBCUs in GAO's survey and interviews were unaware of the program. Moreover, public HBCUs in four states reported facing participation challenges due to state laws or policies that conflict with program requirements. For example, participants are required to provide collateral, but public HBCUs in two states reported they cannot use state property for that purpose. In March 2018, a federal law was enacted requiring Education to develop an outreach plan to improve program participation. An outreach plan that includes direct outreach to individual HBCUs and states to help address these issues could help increase participation. Without direct outreach, HBCUs may continue to face participation challenges. In addition, two HBCUs recently defaulted on their program loans and 29 percent of loan payments were delinquent in 2017. Education modified a few loans in 2013 and was recently authorized to offer loan deferment, but has no plans to analyze the potential benefits to HBCUs and the program's cost of offering such modifications in the future. Until Education conducts such analyses, policymakers will lack key information on potential options to assist HBCUs."
Why GAO Did This Study: "HBCUs play a prominent role in our nation's higher education system. For example, about one-third of African-Americans receiving a doctorate in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics received undergraduate degrees from HBCUs. To help HBCUs facing challenges accessing funding for capital projects, in 1992, federal law created the HBCU Capital Financing Program, administered by Education, to provide HBCUs with access to low-cost loans. GAO was asked to review the program.
This report examines HBCUs' capital project needs and their funding sources, and Education's efforts to help HBCUs access and participate in the HBCU Capital Financing Program. GAO surveyed all 101 accredited HBCUs and 79 responded, representing a substantial, but nongeneralizable, portion of HBCUs. GAO analyzed the most recent program participation data (1996-2017) and finance data (2015-16 school year); reviewed available HBCU master plans; visited nine HBCUs of different sizes and sectors (public and private); and interviewed Education officials and other stakeholders."
What GAO Recommends: "GAO recommends Education (1) include direct outreach to individual HBCUs and steps to address participation challenges for some public HBCUs in its outreach plan, and (2) analyze the potential benefits and costs of offering loan modifications in the program. Education outlined plans to address the first recommendation, and partially agreed with the second. GAO continues to believe both recommendations are warranted."
The text of the GAO report is available at https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-18-455?utm_campaign=usgao_email&utm_content=daybook&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
GAO Issues Report on Federal Real Property
WASHINGTON, July 27 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on the extent to which the General Services Administration has included provisions in its outlease agreements related to the participation of elected officials. The report (GAO-18-603R) is titled "Federal Real Property: GSA Outleasing and Restrictions on Participation of Elected Officials".
The report was sent to Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Rep. Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, D-Georgia, ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure
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WASHINGTON, July 27 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on the extent to which the General Services Administration has included provisions in its outlease agreements related to the participation of elected officials. The report (GAO-18-603R) is titled "Federal Real Property: GSA Outleasing and Restrictions on Participation of Elected Officials".
The report was sent to Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Rep. Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, D-Georgia, ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructuresubcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management, on July 25. Here are excerpts of summaries associated with the report.
What GAO Found: "The General Services Administration (GSA) is authorized under certain circumstances to lease unneeded space to private businesses and other nonfederal entities--a process known as outleasing. GSA outleases at least 20 percent of space in six federally-owned buildings, as of June 2018, ranging from part of the space in two buildings to all of the space in four other buildings. In April 2018, GSA finalized a new program guide that it anticipates will generally introduce a more standardized approach for its officials to follow in the agency's outleasing. GSA officials told us that GSA contracting officers will continue to have discretion in developing terms and conditions of outlease agreements, subject to the general requirement that these contracting officers must act "in the best interests of the U.S. Government." Eight of the 11 leases for the six outleased buildings include one or more provisions restricting certain participation by members of Congress, and three of those same provisions also restrict certain participation by elected federal executive branch officials."
Why GAO Did This Study: "GAO placed federal real property management on its High Risk List in 2003. Yet, 15 years later the federal government continues to face challenges in disposing of excess or underutilized real property that it is unable to repurpose. This report summarizes: (1) the extent to which GSA has used outleasing to substantially or wholly utilize unneeded federal real property; (2) the process GSA has followed when developing outlease agreements; and (3) the extent to which GSA has included provisions in its outlease agreements related to the participation of elected officials in these outleases.
To address our objectives, we obtained GSA data, as of June 2018, on all federal real properties identified by GSA as substantially or wholly outleased--which we defined as outleasing 20 percent or more of a building. We validated these data by reviewing leases, interviewing GSA officials, and visiting one outlease site. We reviewed relevant laws and regulations, copies of the outlease agreements, and older leases on which the current leases were modeled. We also reviewed GSA's Outlease Program Guide, finalized in April 2018. We interviewed officials from GSA's Outlease Program Office, GSA's Office of General Counsel, and GSA regional offices, including those involved with or knowledgeable about the outlease agreements included in our review."
The text of the GAO report is available at https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-18-603R?utm_campaign=usgao_email&utm_content=daybook&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
GAO Issues Report on Aviation Security
WASHINGTON, July 27 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on the Transportation Security Administration's training of new Transportation Security Officers. The report (GAO-18-552) is titled "Aviation Security: Basic Training Program for Transportation Security Officers Would Benefit from Performance Goals and Measures".
The report was sent to Rep. Michael T. McCaul, R-Texas, chairman, Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Mississippi, ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, Rep. John Katko, R-New York, chairman, and Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-New Jersey, ranking member
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WASHINGTON, July 27 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on the Transportation Security Administration's training of new Transportation Security Officers. The report (GAO-18-552) is titled "Aviation Security: Basic Training Program for Transportation Security Officers Would Benefit from Performance Goals and Measures".
The report was sent to Rep. Michael T. McCaul, R-Texas, chairman, Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Mississippi, ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, Rep. John Katko, R-New York, chairman, and Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-New Jersey, ranking memberof the House Homeland Security subcommittee on Transportation and Protective Security, on July 26. Here are excerpts of summaries associated with the report.
What GAO Found: "The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) established the Transportation Security Officer (TSO) Basic Training program at the TSA Academy at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) in Glynco, Georgia to obtain benefits from centralized training. Prior to the Basic Training program, TSO training was conducted at individual airports, often by TSOs for whom instruction was a collateral duty. According to a business case developed by TSA for Congress in 2017 and TSA officials, TSA expected implementation of the TSO Basic Training program to provide efficiencies to the delivery of new-hire training for TSOs and to enhance the professionalism and morale of newly hired screeners. For example, GAO observed that TSO Basic Training facilities have airport checkpoint equipment and x-ray image simulators for students to practice skills, eliminating the challenge of finding available equipment and training times in a busy airport environment. According to program officials, centralized training also provides trainees with an increased focus on the TSA mission and instills a common culture among TSOs.
TSA's Office of Training and Development (OTD) updates and modifies the TSO Basic Training curriculum in response to evolving security threats and evaluations of effectiveness, among other factors. For example, OTD holds regular meetings with TSA's Office of Security Operations--the office responsible for managing TSO performance--to discuss issues such as imminent threats. The offices also discuss analyses of TSO effectiveness identified through covert tests, in which role players attempt to pass threat objects--such as knives, guns, or simulated improvised explosive devices--through the screening checkpoints. The two offices identify ways to address issues identified in covert testing, which are then incorporated into TSO Basic Training. OTD also gathers input from TSO Basic Training instructors and from participants to adjust training curriculum.
TSA has implemented a training evaluation model but has not yet established specific program goals and performance measures to assess TSO Basic Training. The Kirkpatrick model used by TSA is a commonly-accepted training evaluation model endorsed by the Office of Personnel Management and used throughout the federal government. While TSA reported expected benefits of TSO Basic Training in its business case and implemented the Kirkpatrick model to begin assessing training, it has not yet identified specific goals that the program is expected to achieve, nor has it developed applicable performance measures to evaluate progress toward goals, as called for by leading management practices for training evaluation. TSA officials told GAO that TSO Basic Training is a relatively new program and they planned to collect more data on TSO screening performance before further evaluating the potential impacts of the training program. However, TSO Basic Training serves as the foundation for TSOs to learn core skills and procedures, and it is important to establish goals and measures to better assess the effectiveness of the training they receive. This will help TSA determine the extent to which TSOs are able to fulfill their important role in ensuring passenger safety while also showing results for the funds spent on such training each year."
Why GAO Did This Study: "TSA is responsible for ensuring that all airline passengers and their property are screened for items that could pose a threat to airplanes and passengers at 440 airports across the United States. Since 2016, TSO Basic Training--initial training for newly hired TSOs, including both TSA-employed and private screeners--has consisted of an intensive two-week course at the TSA Academy located at FLETC. TSA has obligated about $53 million for the program from its inception through March 2018. In 2015 and 2017, the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General raised questions about the effectiveness of checkpoint screening, which prompted concerns about training.
GAO was asked to review TSA's training of new TSOs. This report (1) describes the reasons why TSA established the TSO Basic Training program; (2) discusses factors OTD considers when updating TSO Basic Training curriculum; and (3) assesses the extent to which TSA evaluates its TSO Basic Training program. GAO reviewed documents on the development and modification of TSO Basic Training curriculum; visited FLETC; interviewed TSA officials; and compared TSA's program evaluation to leading practices."
What GAO Recommends: "GAO recommends that TSA establish specific goals and performance measures for the TSO Basic Training program. TSA concurred with the recommendation."
The text of the GAO report is available at https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-18-552?utm_campaign=usgao_email&utm_content=daybook&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
