	Background

One of the key provisions of the President’s Management Agenda, released  in 2001, is the expansion of electronic government. SAFECOM falls within the government-to-government  portfolio, due to its focus on accelerating the implementation of  interoperable public safety communications at all levels of government. Leadership Changes and Shortcomings in Collaboration Have Hampered SAFECOM’s Progress

After more than 2 years, Project SAFECOM has made very limited progress  in addressing its overall objective of achieving communications  interoperability among entities at all levels of government. SAFECOM’s  lack of progress has prevented it from achieving the benefits that were  expected of it as one of the 25 OMB-sponsored e–government initiatives,  including improving government efficiency and realizing budgetary  savings. Two factors have contributed significantly to the project’s limited  results. In recent  months, the current project team has pursued various near-term activities  that are intended to lay the groundwork for future interoperability,  including establishing a governance structure that emphasizes  collaboration with stakeholders and developing grant guidance for use with  awards to public safety agencies that encourage planning for  interoperability. However, it has not yet reached written agreements with  several of its major stakeholders on their roles in the project or established  a stable funding mechanism. Until these weaknesses are addressed,  SAFECOM’s ability to achieve its ultimate goal of improving interoperable  communications will remain in doubt. At that time, the  project was assigned to a fourth management team. This guidance has already been incorporated into grants awarded  by the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing  Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. In addition, we will provide copies to the Secretary of Homeland  Security and the Director of OMB.
Why GAO Did This Study

One of the five priorities in the President's Management Agenda is the expansion of electronic government (e-government)--the use of Internet applications to enhance access to and delivery of government information and services. Project SAFECOM is one of the 25 initiatives sponsored by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to implement this agenda. Managed by the Department of Homeland Security, the project's goal is to achieve interoperability among emergencyresponse communications at all levels of government, while at the same time realizing cost savings. GAO assessed the government's progress in implementing Project SAFECOM.

What GAO Found

While its overall objective of achieving communications interoperability among emergency response entities at all levels of government is a challenging task that will take many years to fully accomplish, Project SAFECOM, in its 2-year history, has made very limited progress in addressing this objective. OMB's e-government objectives of improving operating efficiency and achieving budgetary savings within federal programs have also been largely stymied. Two major factors have contributed to the project's limited progress: (1) lack of consistent executive commitment and support, and (2) an inadequate level of interagency collaboration. In its 2 1/2-year history, Project SAFECOM has had four different management teams in three different agencies. In recent months, the current project team has pursued various near-term activities that are intended to lay the groundwork for future interoperability, including establishing a governance structure that emphasizes collaboration with stakeholders and developing guidance for making grants that can be used to encourage public safety agencies to plan for interoperability. However, it has not yet reached written agreements with several of its major stakeholders on their roles in the project or established a stable funding mechanism. Until these shortcomings are addressed, the ability of Project SAFECOM to deliver on its promise of improved interoperability and better response to emergencies will remain in doubt.