Critical Data Lacking to Assess DOE Information Systems

As part of its strategy for streamlining information systems, the Department plans to eliminate or consolidate systems which have the same or similar capabilities and analyze requirements for new systems to prevent additional purchases of duplicate systems. Currently, however, the baseline inventory is substantially incomplete and lacks information describing systems’ functional capabilities. We believe that OIM’s baseline inventory of software systems will not be adequate to support the Department’s streamlining efforts because the SRIS data is incomplete and inconsistently reported. OIM’s analyses showed that only two-thirds of the Department’s management and operating contractors responded to its request for updated SRIS information in 1995. The data deficiencies that we noted exist largely because the Department has allowed its contractors wide latitude in developing and implementing software inventory procedures and standards, and has not required them to follow the Department’s software management guidance. Recommendations

We recommend that you direct the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Information Management to develop, and include in the draft consolidated information resources management order, (1) specific standards for classifying software systems according to their functional capabilities and (2) procedures for ensuring that the data included in software system inventories are complete and reliable; and require all management and operating contractors to immediately evaluate their software system inventories for completeness and accuracy, address any weaknesses identified, and create and provide OIM a database which is consistent with the Department’s standards. The Department of Energy provided comments on a draft of this report.
Why GAO Did This Study

GAO reviewed the Department of Energy's (DOE) software systems that support its Environmental Management Program, focusing on problems that could significantly impair DOE ability to eliminate duplicate information systems while it tries to streamline its information environment and achieve savings.

What GAO Found

GAO found that: (1) DOE is basing its streamlining efforts on a baseline inventory of data on specific software systems, but the inventory is incomplete and lacks critical information on the systems' functional capabilities; (2) the inventory will not help to eliminate duplicate information systems; (3) only two-thirds of the DOE management and operating contractors responded to the 1995 DOE data request; (4) the data deficiencies are due to contractors' inconsistent development and implementation of software inventory procedures and standards and classification of systems, and DOE failure to require them to comply with DOE software management guidance; (5) DOE is developing new guidance for information resources management, but it still does not specify standards for classifying systems according to their functional capabilities or procedures for ensuring data integrity; and (6) contractors will still have wide latitude in their development and maintenance of software system inventories and DOE will not have an effective method for eliminating duplicate systems.