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ExpectMore.govExpectMore.gov home pageEXPECT FEDERAL PROGRAMS TO PERFORM WELL, AND BETTER EVERY YEAR.
High Risk Issue

Issue

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DOE Contract Management


Problem: The Department of Energy (DOE) spends approximately 90 percent, or about $22 billion, of its budget on contracts. Although DOE is making efforts to strengthen contracting guidance and improve performance accountability for contractors, performance problems continue on DOEs major projects.


Goal: Strengthen DOEs contract and project management performance

Challenges/Actions

  • Challenges 1 to 3

    • Strengthen Front-End Planning: Implement measures to ensure adequate project requirements definition is accomplished before a project performance baseline is established.
    • Improve Staffing Levels: Develop and implement a comprehensive federal staffing plan, with an associated resource plan, to recruit, develop, and retain the optimum contract and project management federal workforce.
    • Strengthen Risk Management: Establish objective, uniform methods for assessing, communicating, and managing project risks and uncertainties.
  • Challenges 4 to 6

    • Improve Funding and Baseline Alignment: Improve the alignment and integration of cost baselines with budget funding profiles
    • Improve Cost Estimating Capability: Establish and implement a federal independent government cost estimating capability.
    • Strengthen Federal Ownership: Strengthen the commitment to federal ownership by aligning and integrating acquisition strategies and plans and clearly defining roles and responsibilities.
  • Challenges 7 and 8

    • Improve Oversight: Improve the management and oversight of projects by clarifying federal contract and project management roles, responsibilities, and authorities, and aligning program and project organizational structures.
    • Strengthen Requirements Management: Re-evaluate program and project management policy, guidance, and standards for alignment and consistency, and ensure that responsible personnel are held accountable.
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