Summary

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Social Security Administration's (SSA) efforts to update its computer systems that process benefit claims, specifically its fiscal year (FY) 1987 procurement of automatic data processing (ADP) furniture for the Claims Modernization Project.

GAO found that: (1) SSA did not follow federal regulations requiring agencies to support the need for new furniture; (2) the projected cost per workstation includes some furniture that is not normally required for ADP workstations; (3) the amount of furniture SSA plans to procure substantially exceeds its needs; (4) SSA officials did not provide supporting justification for the large amount of planned furniture procurements; (5) furniture acquisitions are authorized only when there is an increase in agency personnel or a need to avoid program inefficiency; and (6) although specific furniture is needed to support SSA computer modernization, SSA has not clearly identified the nature and urgency of its planned procurement.