GAO called on the bureau’s CIO to work with Sentinel support contractors, where feasible, to establish and implement performance standards in statements of work relative to the quality and timeliness of products and the performance of services.
The FBI responded that the program office already provides sufficient oversight of the contractors. However, GAO pressed that the point was to establish standards to govern the quality and timeliness of the functions and work performed.
GAO cautioned that the lack of such standards increases the chance of contractors producing products or providing services that fall short of expectations.
The report also called on the FBI to revise its IT handbook and related guidance to address certain schedule and cost estimating best practices and ensure they are employed on all major IT programs, including Sentinel.
The bureau stated that it plans to do that by September 30.
