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Federal Agencies Could Save Time and Money With Better Computer Software Alternatives

AFMD-83-29 Published: May 20, 1983. Publicly Released: May 20, 1983.
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Highlights

GAO undertook a review to identify: (1) problems federal agencies have in satisfying their application software needs; (2) options available to agencies in acquiring application software; (3) whether agencies are taking advantage of the most beneficial options; and (4) recommendations to help satisfy federal software needs faster and more economically.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Office of Management and Budget The Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) should direct agencies that develop applications and agencies that operate software sharing activities to make their software, documentation, and directories available to the Federal Software Exchange Center operated by the General Services Administration (GSA) Office of Software Development. In addition, he should analyze the possibility of combining some of the other agencies' software sharing efforts with the Exchange Center's efforts to reduce duplication.
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
General Services Administration The Administrator of General Services should direct that the schedule contracts branch of the GSA Office of Information Resources Management require vendors to complete a standard software summary on each software product for which they negotiate a contract and forward the summaries to the Federal Software Exchange Center for inclusion in the catalog section that deals with vendor software.
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
General Services Administration The Administrator of General Services should direct that the Office of Software Development demonstrate the concept of federal use of vendor-developed proprietary application software by selecting from one to three vendor-developed application packages and modifying them for general use by federal agencies as pilot projects.
Closed – Not Implemented
GSA does not intend to act on this recommendation because it feels that it is not practicable.
General Services Administration The Administrator of General Services should direct that the Federal Software Exchange Center demonstrate the concept of deliberate reuse of federally-owned application software by acquiring, enhancing, and advertising for general use at least one commonly used large-scale application, such as a federal personnel system, as a pilot project.
Closed – Not Implemented
GSA does not intend to act on this recommendation because it feels that the concept has already been demonstrated.
Heads of Federal Agencies The heads of federal agencies should install formal software selection procedures on how to identify, evaluate, and select ways of meeting software needs, including vendor packages and shared software as well as custom development, and require that the selection process be documented.
Closed – Implemented
GAO has indication of action by several agencies. Since this was a recommendation to many agencies, formal responses were not required and there were no date commitments. Also, no reporting was required and saving estimates thus were not available.

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Topics

IT acquisitionsAgency missionsSoftwareCost controlFinancial managementInteragency relationsPrivate sectorFederal agenciesApplication softwareElectronic data processing