The GeoXO Program: Cost and Schedule Baselines Are Established, But NOAA Should Evaluate Plans for the Central Satellite Mission and Revise Its Approach to Performance Gains to Provide the Best Overall Value

Submitting OIG:

Department of Commerce OIG

Report Description:

Our audit objective was to assess NOAA’s progress in defining GeoXO’s mission and establishing programmatic baselines. We found the program should: I. Evaluate its plans for the Central satellite mission. II. Improve its approach to achieving performance gains.

Date Issued:

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Agency Reviewed / Investigated:

Department of Commerce

Submitting OIG-Specific Report Number:

OIG-23-028-A

Component, if applicable:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Location(s):

Agency-Wide

Type of Report:

Audit

Questioned Costs:

Funds for Better Use:

$32,800,000

Number of Recommendations:

Report updated under NDAA 5274:

View Document:

Attachment	Size
OIG-23-028-AReport.pdf	879.62 KB

Additional Details Link:

https://www.oig.doc.gov/Pages/The-GeoXO-Program-Cost-and-Schedule-Baselines-Are-…

Related Open Recommendations

Recommendation Number	Recommendation Status	Significant Recommendation
1	Open	Yes
1. We recommend that the NOAA Deputy Under Secretary for Operations ensure that NESDIS updates GeoXO's Central satellite plans to align with the expected availability level to determine cost and performance tradeoffs.
2	Open	Yes
2. We recommend that the NOAA Deputy Under Secretary for Operations ensure that NESDIS assesses the cost and performance tradeoffs of the second Central satellite to put its planned funds to better use.
4	Open	Yes
4. We recommend that the NOAA Deputy Under Secretary for Operations direct the Assistant Administrator for Satellite and Information Services ensure future satellite system acquisitions define both threshold and objective contract requirements for desired performance gains.

Recommendation Number

Recommendation Status

Significant Recommendation

Additional Details

Open

Yes

1. We recommend that the NOAA Deputy Under Secretary for Operations ensure that NESDIS updates GeoXO's Central satellite plans to align with the expected availability level to determine cost and performance tradeoffs.

Open

Yes

2. We recommend that the NOAA Deputy Under Secretary for Operations ensure that NESDIS assesses the cost and performance tradeoffs of the second Central satellite to put its planned funds to better use.

Open

Yes