The Energy Department continues to face cost and schedule management issues in the agency’s projects to modernize the U.S. nuclear security enterprise, according to a Government Accountability Office report.
GAO said Tuesday DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration has made some improvements to how it manages an ongoing life-extension program for B61-12 nuclear gravity bombs but the initiative has been beset by significant changes in schedule and cost estimates.
Auditors also found that NNSA lacks a comprehensive policy to implement a framework for contractor management and performance evaluation.
According to GAO, DOE’s Office of Environmental Management has spent billions of dollars on cleanup of former weapons production facilities and its estimated costs for the remaining work has been growing.
GAO urged the department to adopt a risk-based approach for long-term nuclear waste cleanup efforts.