Information Resources

USDA Lacks Data on Major Computer Systems Gao ID: AIMD-94-31 October 21, 1993

The Agriculture Department (USDA) says that it has 17 major computer systems under development with total estimated life-cycle costs of $6.3 billion. One of these--a major information technology modernization program for the farm service agencies--accounts for about $2.6 billion of this amount. USDA has two additional major initiatives--one to streamline administrative processes and another to develop integrated financial information systems--that are still in early planning stages and therefore do not yet have estimated life-cycle costs. Although the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requires specific information about major systems, USDA has not routinely collected and reported these basic data and has therefore not complied with these government reporting requirements. USDA, OMB, and Congress need these data to determine (1) how and to what extent information technology is being used and (2) whether planned information technology investments warrant further review. Recently, USDA has taken steps to comply with the OMB requirements.

GAO found that: (1) USDA has 17 major computer systems under development with total life-cycle costs of $6.3 billion and two other major initiatives in early planning stages; (2) the major information technology modernization program for farm service agencies accounts for about 41 percent of the total life-cycle costs; (3) USDA does not routinely collect and report detailed data on the acquisition, operation, and use of all information technology resources that is required by Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-11; and (4) the USDA Office of Information Resources Management (OIRM) has issued guidance and provided training on how its component agencies should report required information for the fiscal year 1995 budget and increased its staff to improve oversight.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

Director: Team: Phone:


The Justia Government Accountability Office site republishes public reports retrieved from the U.S. GAO These reports should not be considered official, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Justia.