Review of Selected Aspects of Strategic and Critical Materials Stockpile Management

GAO evaluated the General Services Administration's Federal Property Resource Service's (FPRS) procedures designed to ensure that the stockpile commodities are properly stored and accounted for and that the status of the stockpile is accurately reported to Congress.

GAO believes that FPRS is generally fulfilling its responsibilities for the care and maintenance of stockpile materials and for assuring that its reports on the status of the stockpile are as accurate as can be expected under current conditions. However, GAO noted several matters which might pose problems in the future. The vast amount of material and the manner in which much of it is stored make detailed verification of inventory record accuracy costly. Many stockpile storage facilities are in need of repair. While this situation has not caused widespread damage to stockpile inventories, some damage has occurred. The level of security has been reduced at some storage sites, and FPRS officials were concerned that further reductions may cause problems.