Cleanup Technology
Better Management for DOE's Technology Development Program Gao ID: RCED-92-145 April 10, 1992The Department of Energy (DOE) has implemented its technology development program for environmental cleanup and has funded major research and development projects. The program's funding for fiscal year 1992 is about $303 million, and DOE is requesting about $315 million for fiscal year 1993. The agency has not, however, developed measurable performance goals, overall cost estimates and schedules, and key decision points for evaluating program projects. Without these basic management tools, DOE will have a hard time determining what its objectives are, how best to achieve them, and when it has achieved them. Moreover, Congress will have difficulty determining what investments the program is making and what funding is needed.
GAO found that: (1) DOE established the TD Program as part of its efforts to clean up the environment; (2) although DOE has begun to implement the TD Program and fund major research and development projects, it has not established measurable performance goals, determined the cost of accomplishing those goals, or ensured that the research and development projects continue to be beneficial; and (3) for fiscal year (FY) 1992, DOE is planning to receive about $303 million in funds for the program, and is requesting about $315 million for FY 1993. GAO believes that, without fundamental management tools: (1) DOE will have difficulty clearly determining its objectives, how to achieve them, and when it has achieved them; and (2) Congress will have difficulty determining TD Program investment and funding needs.
RecommendationsOur 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.
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