The audit report “Expendable Launch Vehicle Performance Measures”
(IG-03-002) has been posted to the NASA Office of Inspector General Web
site at: http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/oig/hq/ig-03-002.pdf
Performance measurement involves a process of planning a goal,
establishing an objective measure of actual performance, recording
performance, evaluating actual performance against the planned goal,
and reporting results. The Government Performance and Results Act of
1993 (GPRA) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) define a
performance measure as a performance goal or performance indicator.
GPRA states that a performance goal means a target level of performance
expressed as a tangible, measurable objective against which actual
achievement can be compared. We reviewed two of NASA’s performance
measures associated with the Expendable Launch Vehicle (ELV) Program to
determine whether, in accordance with the GPRA and the President’s
Management Agenda, these measures will give the Congress and the public
insight on management decisions and confidence in the results achieved.
NASA’s fiscal year (FY) 2003 budget for ELV services is $338 million,
including $36 million for technical management and acquisition
services. The Agency’s FY 2003 Annual Performance Plan includes two
performance goals related to the ELV Program and one performance
indicator for each goal.
Results of Audit
Generally, NASA’s performance measurement system complied with Federal
requirements. NASA should however clarify one of two ELV performance
goals and indicators in the Performance Plan to better meet GPRA and
OMB requirements. Specifically, NASA’s Office of Space Flight had not
fully defined two key terms or provided the basis for the prescribed
95-percent launch success rate in the Plan. Fully defining the terms
and explaining the basis for the 95-percent rate will provide improved
performance information. Improved performance information will allow
external stakeholders, such as the Congress and the public, to better
determine the relative effectiveness of the ELV Program and to have
confidence that the program’s results justify the $36 million budgeted
for technical management and acquisition services.
Recommendation
We recommended that NASA clarify the meaning of the two key terms and
the basis for the prescribed 95-percent launch success rate in the ELV
Program performance indicator in the FY 2003 NASA Performance Plan or
Performance Report.
Management’s Response
NASA concurred with the recommendation and will take corrective action
starting with the FY 2002 NASA Performance Report, which NASA expects
to release in late January 2003.
To comment on this report, please send e-mail to igrelease@hq.nasa.gov
