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Benchmarking: Costly and Difficult, but Often Necessary When Buying Computer Equipment or Services

AFMD-83-5 Published: Oct 22, 1982. Publicly Released: Nov 22, 1982.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO assessed the costs of benchmarking in automatic data processing procurement to determine whether benchmarking is necessary and cost effective and what alternatives there are to the benchmark process.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
General Services Administration The Administrator of General Services should develop criteria that will help federal agencies determine: (1) when it is appropriate to benchmark; (2) if benchmarking is needed, what approach is most appropriate; and (3) if benchmarking is not needed, what alternative should be used.
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 revise the Federal Procurement Regulations (FPR 1-4.1109-22) so that benchmarking is discouraged for computer equipment procurements with a projected system life contract value of less than $2 million.
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

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Topics

Benchmark testingComputer contractsComputer equipment contractsCost controlElectronic data processingEvaluation criteriaFederal procurement policyIT acquisitionsLife cycle costsComputers