GSA's Telecommunications Procurement Program Requires Comprehensive Planning and Management

GAO addressed the General Services Administration's (GSA) management and procurement of telecommunications equipment and services under the divestiture of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) and the Federal Communications Commission's Second Computer Inquiry.

Traditionally, GSA has ordered telephone services and equipment from AT&T Presently, under divestiture, GSA must estimate future telecommunications needs, design solicitations, and competitively procure large amounts of telecommunications equipment in a cost-effective manner. GAO found that GSA has not yet adjusted to the new telecommunications environment. Decisions have resulted in actions that lack sound legal bases. Because GSA did not perform cost analysis of lease versus purchase, consider future service options, purchase customer premise equipment (CPE), or arrange for continued maintenance of leased CPE during the years before deregulation actually took place, GSA was forced to engage in questionable last minute procurement practices. Further, GSA has neither given sufficient management attention to the implementation of a multifaceted program nor developed a comprehensive plan to coordinate its actions. GAO found that, as a result, the first of many large procurements is late.

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: Thomas P. Giammo Team: General Accounting Office: Information Management and Technology Division Phone: (202) 275-3195