OMAO Must Define and Implement a Disciplined Requirements Management Process to Ensure Future Acquisitions Meet User Needs

For our final report on the evaluation of NOAA OMAO’s Ship Fleet Recapitalization Program, our overall objective was to determine the extent to which NOAA OMAO’s acquisition fleet lifecycle processes were followed throughout the development, operation, maintenance, and sustainment of the program to meet mission requirements, with a focus on OMAO’s requirements management processes. We contracted with The MITRE Corporation (MITRE)—an independent firm—to perform this evaluation of NOAA. Our office oversaw the progress of this evaluation to ensure that MITRE performed the evaluation in accordance with the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency’s Quality Standards for Inspection and Evaluation (January 2012) and contract terms. However, MITRE is solely responsible for the attached report and conclusions expressed in it.