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

View Report

Date Issued

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Submitting OIG

Department of Commerce OIG

Other Participating OIGs

Department of Commerce OIG

Agencies Reviewed/Investigated

Department of Commerce

Components

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Report Number

OIG-23-028-A

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.

Report Type

Audit

Agency Wide

Yes

Number of Recommendations

Questioned Costs

Funds for Better Use

$32,800,000

Additional Details

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

Open Recommendations

This report has 2 open recommendations.

Recommendation Number	Significant Recommendation	Recommended Questioned Costs	Recommended Funds for Better Use
1	Yes	$0	$0
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	Yes	$0	$32,800,000
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.