NASA’s Earth System Science Pathfinder Program

Submitting OIG:

National Aeronautics and Space Administration OIG

Report Description:

NASA established this program nearly 30 years ago to spur new science and solutions for meeting the challenges of climate change. While the program provides opportunities to advance Earth science research, a sharper focus on solutions that benefit society would serve an even greater good.

Date Issued:

Wednesday, September 6, 2023

Agency Reviewed / Investigated:

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Submitting OIG-Specific Report Number:

IG-23-018

Location(s):

Agency-Wide

Type of Report:

Audit

Questioned Costs:

Funds for Better Use:

Number of Recommendations:

Report updated under NDAA 5274:

View Document:

Attachment	Size
Final-Report-IG-23-018-NASAs-Earth-System-Science-Pathfinder-Program.pdf	3.29 MB

Additional Details Link:

https://oig.nasa.gov/docs/IG-23-018.pdf

Related Open Recommendations

Recommendation Number	Recommendation Status	Significant Recommendation
2	Open	No
Reexamine its selection process to ensure PIs or their team have sufficient experience, including project management, and the ability to dedicate necessary resources to effectively manage ESSP projects.
3	Open	No
Reissue and require SMD stakeholders to follow the tenets of the 2017 decision memorandum on Class D missions (Class D Tailoring/Streamlining Decision Memorandum, December 7, 2017.
4	Open	No
In collaboration with NASA’s Launch Service Program, develop a process to engage early and evaluate alternative launch options in the event that ESSP project encounters access to space issues.
5	Open	No
Conduct a lessons learned review of the GeoCarb mission to identify what NASA, PI, and contractor practices and activities should be revised and applied to the management of future Earth Venture Class projects.
6	Open	No
Develop a plan to provide principal investigators (PIs) and their teams with contract and project management training post-selection approval to better equip them to manage subcontractors.
7	Open	No
Develop a formal and clear guidance on the roles, responsibilities, and expectations for the inclusion of applications within Earth Venture Class projects.
8	Open	No
Develop a methodology for funding applications in Earth Venture Class projects.

Recommendation Number

Recommendation Status

Significant Recommendation

Additional Details

Open

Reexamine its selection process to ensure PIs or their team have sufficient experience, including project management, and the ability to dedicate necessary resources to effectively manage ESSP projects.

Open

Reissue and require SMD stakeholders to follow the tenets of the 2017 decision memorandum on Class D missions (Class D Tailoring/Streamlining Decision Memorandum, December 7, 2017.

Open

In collaboration with NASA’s Launch Service Program, develop a process to engage early and evaluate alternative launch options in the event that ESSP project encounters access to space issues.

Open

Conduct a lessons learned review of the GeoCarb mission to identify what NASA, PI, and contractor practices and activities should be revised and applied to the management of future Earth Venture Class projects.