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United Nations: Renovation Schedule Accelerated after Delays, but Risks Remain in Key Areas

GAO-08-513R Published: Apr 09, 2008. Publicly Released: Apr 09, 2008.
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Highlights

The United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York City neither conforms to current building codes nor meets UN technology or security requirements. As the UN's host country and largest contributor, the United States has a substantial interest in the success of the Capital Master Plan (CMP), a project to renovate the complex. In this update, GAO reviewed the following key areas: renovation approach, schedule, cost, funding, risk management, project progress, procurement, and oversight. To perform this work, GAO reviewed UN documents and met with officials from the CMP office and other UN departments. To assess oversight and monitoring, GAO reviewed UN documents and oversight reports and interviewed UN officials from the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) and officials from the U.S. Department of State (State).

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of State The Secretary of State and the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations should work with other member sates to direct the CMP office to establish a procedure that would require the construction manager to inform the office of issues that may arise with its subcontractors that could increase the cost or delay the schedule of the project.
Closed – Implemented
The United Nations (UN) Capital Master Plan team and construction manager (CM) have formalized a regular schedule of meetings at which they discuss the projects progress and any issues related to the project. One of these meetings is a weekly general construction meeting. According to officials with the Capital Master Plan, any issues or potential concerns with subcontractors are specifically discussed at this meeting and may be discussed at other meetings.

Full Report

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Topics

Construction costsCost analysisCost overrunsFacility constructionFacility repairsFederal fundsFunds managementFuture budget projectionsInternal controlsInternational organizationsInternational relationsProcurement practicesProgram evaluationRisk managementSchedule slippagesGovernment agency oversightProgram costsProgram goals or objectivesProgram implementation