Embassy Construction: Achieving Concurrent Construction Would Help Reduce Costs and Meet Security Goals
GAO-04-952
Published: Sep 28, 2004. Publicly Released: Sep 28, 2004.
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Highlights
After the 1998 bombings of two U.S. embassies in Africa, the State Department embarked on a multibillion-dollar, multiyear program to build new, secure facilities on compounds at posts around the world. The Secure Embassy Construction and Counterterrorism Act of 1999 generally requires that all U.S. agencies, including the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), colocate offices within the newly constructed compounds. This report discusses how State is incorporating office space for USAID into the construction of new embassy compounds and the cost and security implications of its approach.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| In order to minimize costs and further improve security associated with building new embassy compounds, if the Capital Security Cost-Sharing Program is not implemented in fiscal year 2005, Congress may wish to consider alternative funding approaches to support concurrent construction of new embassy compounds. | Congress passed Capital Cost Sharing, rendering this moot. |
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations | The Director of State's Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations should update the Long-Range Overseas Buildings Pan to achieve the concurrent construction of USAID facilities to the maximum extent possible. | In September 2004, (Embassy Construction: Achieving Concurrent Construction Would Help Reduce Costs and Meet Security Goals, GAO-04-952, 09/28/04) GAO recommended that State (1) achieve concurrent construction of U.S. Agency for Development (USAID) facilities to the maximum extent possible and (2) consider, in coordination with USAID, incorporating USAID space into single office buildings, where appropriate. State agreed with the recommendations and stated that it planned to revise its long-range overseas buildings plan to implement the recommendations. State has implemented the recommendations. Except for cases in which the new embassy compound has already been built without space for...
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| Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations | The Director of State's Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations should, in coordination with USAID, consider incorporating USAID space into single office buildings in future compounds, where appropriate. | September 2004, (Embassy Construction: Achieving Concurrent Construction Would Help Reduce Costs and Meet Security Goals, GAO-04-952, 09/28/04) GAO recommended that State (1) achieve concurrent construction of U.S. Agency for Development (USAID) facilities to the maximum extent possible and (2) consider, in coordination with USAID, incorporating USAID space into single office buildings, where appropriate. State agreed with the recommendations and stated that it planned to revise its long-range overseas buildings plan to implement the recommendations. State has implemented the recommendations. Except for cases in which the new embassy compound has already been built without space for...
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Construction (process)Construction costsJersey barriersCost analysisCost effectiveness analysisEmbassiesFacility securitySecure facilitiesConstructionEmbassies