High Performance Computing and Communications: New Program Direction Would Benefit from a More Focused Effort
AIMD-95-6
Published: Nov 04, 1994. Publicly Released: Nov 04, 1994.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the status of the High Performance Computing and Communications (HPCC) program, focusing on: (1) the effectiveness of the program's management structure in setting goals and measuring progress; and (2) how extensively private industry has been involved in program planning and execution.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Science and Technology Policy | The Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), should direct the HPCC program managers, in consultation with industry and academic representatives, to develop an explicit HPCC technical agenda, delineating the program's overall strategy and setting development priorities for specific technology areas. This document should specify target amounts of resources to be invested in each priority area and the major results that are expected, so that it can be used as a baseline for measuring progress and controlling costs. |
Closed – Implemented
The High Performance Computing and Communications (HPCC) National Coordination Office (NCO) has prepared several documents that address many of the concerns of this recommendation, including a FY 1995 Implementation Plan in April 1994 and a Strategic Implementation Plan in March 1995. However, none of these documents includes target investment levels to be used as a way of controlling costs. HPCC program managers do not believe that precise predetermined figures are practical within the context of a research and development program.
|
| Office of Science and Technology Policy | The Director, OSTP, should develop, in consultation with the Office of Management and Budget and Congress, detailed guidelines for preparing HPCC budgets, including guidance on the types of activities to include in the program and how they should be categorized. OSTP may wish to delegate this task to the National Science and Technology Council Committee on Information and Communications. |
Closed – Implemented
The directors of OMB and the Office of Science and Technology Policy jointly issued guidance to executive branch agencies on April 28, 1995. However, this guidance does not describe what activities should be included within the HPCC program or how they should be organized. HPCC program managers believe strongly that participation in the program should be strictly voluntary. Therefore, it appears unlikely that this recommendation will be implemented without congressional action.
|
| Office of Science and Technology Policy | The Director, OSTP, should take steps to expedite the appointment of an advisory committee whose membership includes representatives from a wide range of industries. |
Closed – Implemented
The Advisory Committee on High-Performance Computing and Communications, Information Technology, and the Next Generation Internet was established by Executive Order signed by President Clinton on February 11, 1997.
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| Other | The Director, National Coordinating Office (NCO), should take additional steps to promote industry participation, including involving industry representatives in the program planning process, and providing greater support for software development and standards-setting activities to make it easier for industry to develop applications of deployment on NII. |
Closed – Implemented
NCO initiated a number of activities, including workshops and standards-setting initiatives, that substantially address the concerns of this recommendation.
|
| Office of Science and Technology Policy | The Director, OSTP, should delegate to NCO the role of sponsoring symposia where industry can meet with program officials and academia to help define the research priorities of the program. |
Closed – Implemented
This recommendation has been implemented. A recent example is the Committee on Information and Communications' July 1995 forum, which provided an explicit opportunity for participation in defining research priorities by industry and academia.
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Topics
Command control communications computer systemsComputer hardware industryComputer modelingInformation resources managementInformation technologyResearch and developmentResearch program managementSystems compatibilitySystems conversionsTelecommunications industryInformation infrastructure