Nuclear Facility Cleanup: Centralized Contracting of Laboratory Analysis Would Produce Budgetary Savings
RCED-95-118
Published: May 08, 1995. Publicly Released: Jun 07, 1995.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Energy's (DOE) decentralized approach to laboratory analysis, focusing on: (1) the differences in prices and contracting approaches between DOE and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for similar types of laboratory analyses; (2) whether the decentralized DOE approach has resulted in any administrative inefficiencies; and (3) key changes DOE is making in its contracting procedures.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Energy | The Secretary of Energy should centralize the procurement of its commonly used laboratory analyses for environmental contaminants in the cleanup of its nuclear facilities. |
Closed – Implemented
DOE is consolidating the purchase of laboratory analysis. Since the issuance of the report, DOE states its contract price has fallen by 31 percent.
|
| Department of Energy | The Secretary of Energy should identify and eliminate the contractor resources that will no longer be needed under a central procurement system. |
Closed – Implemented
DOE is consolidating the purchase of its laboratory analysis. Policy has been issued and implementation has started.
|
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Topics
CentralizationContract costsCost controlEnvironment evaluationEnvironmental engineeringEvaluation costsLaboratoriesNuclear waste managementNuclear weapons plantsRadioactive pollution