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Information Technology: Better Informed Decision Making Needed on Navy's Next Generation Enterprise Network Acquisition

GAO-11-150 Published: Mar 11, 2011. Publicly Released: Mar 11, 2011.
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Highlights

The Department of the Navy (DON), a major component of the Department of Defense (DOD), has launched its Next Generation Enterprise Network (NGEN) program to replace the Navy Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI) program. NGEN capabilities, such as secure transport of voice and data, data storage, and e-mail, are to be incrementally acquired through multiple providers. As planned, the first increment is expected to provide comparable NMCI capabilities, additional information assurance, and greater DON network control, at a cost of about $50 billion through fiscal year 2025. Given the size, importance, and complexity of NGEN, GAO was asked to determine whether DON has sufficiently analyzed alternative acquisition approaches and has a reliable schedule for executing the program, and whether program acquisition decisions have been performance- and risk-based. To do this, GAO reviewed the NGEN analysis of alternatives, integrated master schedule, and key milestone decisions.

DON did not sufficiently analyze alternative acquisition approaches for NGEN because the alternatives analysis contained key weaknesses, and none of the alternatives assessed match the current acquisition approach. Specifically, the cost estimates for the respective alternatives were not reliable because they were not substantially accurate, and they were neither comprehensive nor credible. Further, the operational effectiveness analysis, the other key aspect of an analysis of alternatives, did not establish and analyze sufficient measures for assessing each alternative's ability to achieve program goals and deliver program capabilities. Moreover, the acquisition approach that DON is actually pursuing was not one of the alternatives assessed in the analysis, and it is riskier and potentially costlier than the alternatives analyzed because it includes a higher number of contractual relationships. According to program officials, the analysis reflects the most that could be done in the time that was available to complete it, and they do not view the alternative selected as materially different from the assessed alternatives, even though it is about $4.7 billion more costly. DON does not have a reliable schedule for executing NGEN. Only two of the four subschedules that GAO reviewed, each of which help form the master schedule, adequately satisfied any of the nine practices that are associated with developing and maintaining a reliable schedule. These weaknesses have contributed to delays in key program milestones. During the course of GAO's review, DON stated that action was taken to address some, but not all, of these weaknesses. According to program officials, schedule estimating was constrained by staffing limitations. NGEN acquisition decisions were not always performance- and risk-based. In particular, the program was approved in the face of known performance shortfalls and risks. For example, the program was approved at a key acquisition review despite the lack of defined requirements, which was recognized as a risk that would impact the completion of other key documents, such as the test plan. This risk was later realized as a critical issue. According to program officials, the decisions to proceed were based on their view that they had sufficiently mitigated known risks and issues. Collectively, these weaknesses mean that DON does not have a sufficient basis for knowing that it is pursuing the best approach for acquiring NGEN capabilities and the program's cost and schedule performance is unlikely to track to estimates. GAO is recommending that DOD limit further investment in NGEN until it conducts an interim review to reconsider the selected acquisition approach and addresses issues discussed in this report. In its comments, DOD stated that it did not concur with the recommendation to reconsider its acquisition approach; GAO maintains that without doing so, DOD cannot be sure it is pursuing the most cost-effective approach.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Defense To ensure that NGEN capabilities are acquired in the most cost-effective manner, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics to conduct an interim NGEN milestone review. At a minimum, this review should ensure that DON pursues the most advantageous acquisition approach, as evidenced by a meaningful analysis of all viable alternative acquisition approaches, to include for each alternative reliably derived cost estimates and metrics-based operational effectiveness analyses. In addition, the review should consider existing performance shortfalls and known risks, including those discussed in this report.
Closed – Not Implemented
As of September 2015, the Department of the Navy has not implemented this recommendation. Specifically, the department did not conduct an interim Next Generation Enterprise Network (NGEN) milestone review based on a meaningful analysis of all viable alternative acquisition approaches. In March 2011, the department partially concurred with this recommendation, concluding that its initial analysis on alternative approaches was sufficient. As of 2015, the NGEN program has moved forward with its selected approach and thus the opportunity to benefit from this action has passed.
Department of Defense To ensure that NGEN capabilities are acquired in the most cost-effective manner, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Navy to immediately limit further investment in NGEN until this review has been conducted and a decision on how best to proceed has been reported to the Secretary of Defense and congressional defense committees.
Closed – Not Implemented
As of September 2015, the Department of the Navy has not implemented this recommendation. Specifically, the department has moved forward with the Next Generation Enterprise Network (NGEN) acquisition without limiting investment until an interim milestone review based on meaningful analysis of all viable alternative acquisition approaches was conducted. In March 2011, the department did not concur with this recommendation. As of 2015, the opportunity to benefit from this action has passed.
Department of Defense To facilitate implementation of the acquisition approach resulting from the review, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Navy to ensure that the NGEN integrated master schedule substantially reflects the key schedule estimating practices.
Closed – Implemented
The Department of the Navy has implemented this recommendation. As of September 2015, the Next Generation Enterprise Network (NGEN) program schedule at least partially meets the majority of schedule estimation best practices associated with developing and maintaining a reliable schedule. As a result, program officials are able to more effectively manage and measure program progress.
Department of Defense To facilitate implementation of the acquisition approach resulting from the review, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Navy to ensure that future NGEN gate reviews and decisions fully reflect the state of the program's performance and its exposure to risks.
Closed – Implemented
The Department of the Navy has implemented this recommendation. At a May 2015 NGEN gate decision, program officials were provided with performance and risk data to ensure informed decision making. As a result, there is a reduced likelihood of ongoing program delays and related cost overruns.

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Comparative analysisCost analysisDecision makingDefense capabilitiesDefense procurementInformation technologyIT acquisitionsMilitary forcesMilitary systems analysisNaval procurementProcurementProcurement planningStrategic planningSystems analysisFederal and state relations