Ongoing DTS Testing Remains a Concern

DTS development and implementation have been problematic, especially  in the area of requirements and testing key functionality to ensure that the  system would perform as intended. Given the lack of adherence to such a  key practice, it is not surprising that critical flaws have been identified  after deployment, resulting in significant schedule slippages. Our recent analysis of selected requirements disclosed that the testing of  DTS is not always adequate prior to updated software being released for  use by DOD personnel. As a result of these two  weaknesses, DOD travelers might not have received accurate information  on available flights and airfares, which could have resulted in higher travel  costs. Since the PMO-DTS  neither performed an end-to-end test nor made sure that the information  returned from this commercial product was in agreement with the  information contained in the GDS, it did not have reasonable assurance  that DTS was displaying the proper flights and airfares information to the  users. DTS Has Corrected Some Previously Reported Travel Problems

Of the four previously reported DOD travel problems, DTS has corrected  one of the problems while the others remain. However, the remaining  problems are not necessarily within the purview of DTS and may take  departmentwide action to fully address. Duplicate Payments Related to Centrally Billed Accounts (CBA). Our preliminary observations indicate that DTS was designed to ensure  that tickets purchased through the CBA cannot be claimed on the  individual’s travel voucher as a reimbursement to the traveler. DTS Faces Challenges in Achieving the Goal of a Standard DOD Travel System

DOD’s goal of making DTS the standard travel system within the  department depends upon the development, testing, and implementation  of system interfaces with the myriad of related DOD systems, as well as  private-sector systems such as the system used by credit card company  that provides DOD military and civilian employees with travel cards. While  DOD has developed 32 interfaces, the PMO-DTS is aware of at least 17  additional DOD business systems for which interfaces must be developed. Additionally, the underutilization of DTS at the sites where it  has been deployed is also hindering the department’s efforts to have a  standard travel system throughout the department. Underutilization of DTS Affects Estimated Savings

Another challenge for DTS in achieving its goal of a standard travel system  within DOD is the continued use of the existing legacy travel systems,  which are owned and operated by the various DOD components. Because of the continued operation of the legacy systems at locations  where DTS has been fully deployed, DOD components pay DFAS higher  processing fees for processing manual travel vouchers as opposed to  processing the travel vouchers electronically through DTS. We  also would like to reiterate that following this testimony, we plan to issue  a report that will include recommendations to the Secretary of Defense  aimed at improving the department’s implementation of DTS. Appendix I: Department of Defense Rights to Property in the Defense Travel System

DOD has taken several steps to address its needs for the use of intellectual  and tangible property in the DTS, but it has not yet completed the exercise  of the rights it determined necessary for long-term development and  implementation of the DTS. In this regard, we focused on how DTS  addresses issues related to premium class travel, unused tickets, and  centrally billed accounts.
Why GAO Did This Study

The Department of Defense (DOD) has been working to develop and implement a standard end-to-end travel system for the last 10 years. Congress has been at the forefront in addressing issues related to DOD's travel management practices with the hearing today being another example of its oversight efforts. Because of widespread congressional interest in the Defense Travel System (DTS), GAO's current audit is being performed under the statutory authority given to the Comptroller General of the United States. GAO's testimony is based on the preliminary results of that audit and focuses on the following three key questions: (1) Has DOD effectively tested key functionality in DTS related to flights and fare information? (2) Will DTS correct the problems related to DOD travel previously identified by GAO and others? and (3) What challenges remain in ensuring that DTS achieves its goal as DOD's standard travel system? In addition, the Subcommittee asked that GAO provide a description of the intellectual property rights of DOD in DTS. Subsequent to this testimony, GAO plans to issue a report that will include recommendations to the Secretary of Defense aimed at improving the department's implementation of DTS.

What GAO Found

DTS development and implementation have been problematic, especially in the area of testing key functionality to ensure that the system will perform as intended. Consequently, critical flaws have been identified after deployment, resulting in significant schedule slippages. GAO's recent analysis of selected requirements disclosed that system testing was ineffective in ensuring that the promised capability has been delivered as intended. For example, GAO found that DOD did not have reasonable assurance that DTS properly display flight and airfare information. This problem was not detected prior to deployment, since DOD failed to properly test system interfaces. Accordingly, DOD travelers might not have received accurate information which, could have resulted in higher travel costs. DTS has corrected some of the previously reported travel problems but others remain. Specifically, DTS has resolved the problem related to duplicate payment for airline tickets purchased with the centrally billed accounts. However, problems remain related to improper premium class travel, unused tickets that are not refunded, and accuracy of traveler's claims. These remaining problems cannot be resolved solely within DTS and will take departmentwide action to address. GAO identified two key challenges facing DTS in becoming DOD's standard travel system: (1) developing needed interfaces and (2) underutilization of DTS at sites where it has been deployed. While DTS has developed 32 interfaces with various DOD business systems, it will have to develop interfaces with at least 17 additional systems--not a trivial task. Furthermore, the continued use of the existing legacy travel systems results in underutilization of DTS and affects the savings that DTS was planned to achieve. Components incur additional costs by operating two systems with the same function--the legacy system and DTS--and by paying higher processing fees for manual travel vouchers as opposed to processing the travel vouchers electronically through DTS.