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Open Recommendations (71 total)

Department of Energy Contracting: Actions Needed to Strengthen Certain Acquisition Planning Processes

GAO-25-106207
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
National Nuclear Security Administration The Associate Administrator for NNSA's Office of Partnership and Acquisition Services should develop a policy to ensure that NNSA acquisition offices consistently document potential lessons learned identified during acquisition planning. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Department of Energy Contracting: Actions Needed to Strengthen Certain Acquisition Planning Processes

GAO-25-106207
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2 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
National Nuclear Security Administration The Associate Administrator for NNSA's Office of Partnership and Acquisition Services should implement procedures to consistently record information on canceled solicitations so that the information is reliable and comprehensive. (Recommendation 7)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
National Nuclear Security Administration The Associate Administrator for NNSA's Office of Partnership and Acquisition Services should implement procedures to ensure it maintains required contract documents on canceled NNSA solicitations. (Recommendation 9)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

National Nuclear Security Administration: Actions Needed to Improve Integration of Production Modernization Programs and Projects

GAO-24-106342
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
National Nuclear Security Administration The NNSA Administrator should ensure that the NNSA cost estimating requirements applicable to Production Modernization programs are revised to fully incorporate the 12 steps for developing reliable program cost estimates from GAO's Cost Estimating and Assessment Guide. (Recommendation 3)
Open
NNSA concurred with this recommendation. As of September 2024, NNSA planned to revise its existing cost estimating requirements for Production Modernization programs. Specifically, NNSA planned to revise its Program Execution Instruction by incorporating, as appropriate, the 12 steps for developing reliable program cost estimates outlined in GAO's Cost Estimating and Assessment Guide. NNSA stated that doing so will bolster its cost estimating requirements for Production Modernization programs and help to ensure the development of reliable cost estimates. NNSA planned to complete this task by January 31, 2025.

National Nuclear Security Administration: Actions Needed to Improve Integration of Production Modernization Programs and Projects

GAO-24-106342
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3 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
National Nuclear Security Administration The NNSA Administrator should ensure that the NNSA schedule requirements applicable to Production Modernization programs are revised to fully incorporate the 10 best practices for developing reliable program schedules from GAO's Schedule Assessment Guide. (Recommendation 1)
Open
NNSA concurred with this recommendation. As of September 2024, NNSA planned to revise its existing schedule requirements for Production Modernization programs. Specifically, NNSA planned to revise its Program Execution Instruction by incorporating, as appropriate, the 10 best practices for developing reliable program schedules outlined in GAO's Schedule Assessment Guide. NNSA stated that doing so will bolster its requirements for Production Modernization programs and help to ensure the development of reliable program schedules. NNSA planned to complete this task by January 31, 2025.
National Nuclear Security Administration The NNSA Administrator should ensure that the other Production Modernization programs, as statutorily required for the Plutonium Modernization program, are managed in accordance with GAO's best practices for cost estimating by developing and maintaining reliable life cycle cost estimates, or otherwise documenting with senior leadership approval their rationale for not doing so. (Recommendation 4)
Open
NNSA concurred with this recommendation. As of September 2024, NNSA planned to revise its existing requirements for developing program cost estimates. As a result, NNSA stated that Production Modernization programs will be required to develop and maintain reliable life cycle cost estimates, or to document with senior leadership approval their rationale for not doing so. NNSA planned to complete this task by September 30, 2025.
National Nuclear Security Administration The NNSA Administrator should ensure that the other Production Modernization programs, as statutorily required for the Plutonium Modernization program, are managed in accordance with GAO's best practices for schedule development by developing and maintaining reliable, resource-loaded integrated master schedules, or otherwise documenting with senior leadership approval their rationale for not doing so. (Recommendation 2)
Open
NNSA concurred with this recommendation. As of September 2024, NNSA planned to revise its existing requirements for developing program schedules. As a result, NNSA stated that Production Modernization programs will be required to develop and maintain reliable, resource-loaded integrated master schedules, or to document with senior leadership approval their rationale for not doing so. NNSA planned to complete this task by September 30, 2025.

National Nuclear Security Administration: Improvements Needed for Overseeing Contractor Workforce Recruitment and Retention Efforts

GAO-24-106861
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
National Nuclear Security Administration The Associate Administrator for NNSA's Office of Partnership and Acquisition Services should fully assess and identify the information it needs to oversee M&O contractors' recruitment and retention efforts, including whether collecting additional information could inform its oversight efforts. (Recommendation 2)
Open
NNSA concurred with this recommendation. In its April 2024 response letter, NNSA indicated it will review recruitment and retention related information that M&O contractors provide to NNSA to identify the current set of data used for oversight. In addition, NNSA said it will work with M&O contractors to identify opportunities where other existing information can be leveraged to further enhance oversight efforts. We will update the status of this recommendation when NNSA provides additional information on the actions taken.

National Nuclear Security Administration: Actions to Recruit and Retain Federal Staff Could Be Improved

GAO-24-106167
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
National Nuclear Security Administration The Director of the NNSA Office of Learning and Career Management should establish a process to monitor offices' progress implementing actions to address the results of their Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey results. (Recommendation 3)
Open
NNSA agreed in principle with this recommendation. In its April 2024 response letter, NNSA stated that the NNSA Office of Learning and Career Management is taking action to establish a more structured process for monitoring the implementation of offices' actions and will work to identify additional opportunities to document more fully and enhance its existing processes. NNSA estimates completing this action by September 30, 2024.

National Nuclear Security Administration: Actions to Recruit and Retain Federal Staff Could Be Improved

GAO-24-106167
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
National Nuclear Security Administration The Director of the NNSA Office of Human Resources should collaborate with relevant stakeholders—including program, functional, mission-enabling, and field offices—to develop a continuing process for systematically analyzing and sharing information agencywide on challenges recruiting and retaining staff. (Recommendation 1)
Open
NNSA agreed in principle with this recommendation. In its April 2024 response letter, NNSA stated that the NNSA Office of Human Resources will review its communication and distribution processes to identify potential opportunities to enhance awareness and use of available information. NNSA estimates completing this action by September 30, 2024.
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