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![handle is hein.gao/gaobaawjq0001 and id is 1 raw text is: DtOZUNENT RESORE
04537 - (8363487e]
Cooperative Actions Result in More Economical Computer
Acquisition and Iproved Security at the Ne Orleans Computer
Center. LCD-77-118; B-146864. December 23, 1977. 21 pp. + 3
appendices (15 pp.).
Report to Rep. Jack Brooks# Chairman# House Comittee on
Government Operations; by Elmer B. Staats# Comptroller General.
Issue Area: Automatic Data Processing: User Requirements and
Systems Specifications -'r Software (105); Federal Records
Management (1400);Iederal Procurement of Goods jnd Servicest
Definition of Performance Requirements in Relation to Need
of the Frocuring Agency (1902).
Contact: Logistics and Communications Div.
Budget Function; Miscellaneous: Automatic Data Processing
(1001).
Organization Concerned: Department of Agriculture; General
Services Administration.
Congressional Relevance: House Committee on Government
Operations; Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and
Forestry.
Authority: Privacy Act of 1974.
The Department of Agriculture was remiss in not
following prescribed procedures for acquirirg a computer system
which was needed at its New Orleans Computer Center. However,
the agencyls cooperation with GAO has enabled the acguisition to
proceed with resultant savings to the Government of about $7.5
million. The cooperation also helped to establish a nev software
conversion method which may achieve additional savings.
Findings/Conclusions: The large volume of personnel records and
the $2 billion of financial transactions that flcw through the
New Orleans Computer 'enter and the National Finance Center
annually were found to be vulnerable to manipulation, making
strengthening of security at the centers the paramount
consideration. Uxposure of these records could result in
violations of the Privacy Act of 1974 and financial losses to
the Government. Recommendations: The Secretary cf Agriculture
should: agree with the General Services Administration to
purchase the new computer system through the Autcmatic Data
Processing nevolving Fund; document the new computer system
acquisition to facilitate monitoring and evaluating the proposed
method for handling software conversion; report to the Chairman
of the House Committee on Government Operations, the
Administrator of General Services# and GAO on experience in
using the proposed method of affecting program ccnversion and
the results achieved; and reevaluate the security program of the
Noew Orleans Computer Center and the National Finance Center to
assure that all needed safeguards are implemented before the new
computer system becomes fully operational. (Authcr/SC)](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.gao/gaobaawjq0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)