DHS does not know the total amount its components invest in research and development and does not have policies and guidance for defining R&D and overseeing R&D resources across the department, GAO has said in calling for stronger oversight and coordination.
The department maintains that its Science & Technology Directorate, Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, and the Coast Guard are the only components that conduct R&D and GAO verified that these are the only components that report budget authority, obligations, or outlays for R&D activities to OMB as part of the budget process.
However, GAO found an additional $255 million in R&D obligations by other DHS components. S&T reported receiving $50 million in reimbursements from other DHS components to conduct R&D, for example.
The department said it is difficult to identify all R&D investments because it does not have a department wide policy defining R&D or guidance directing components on how to report all R&D spending and activities, according to GAO-12-837.
It said while S&T has taken some steps to coordinate R&D efforts across DHS, that efforts are fragmented and overlapping, increasing the risk of unnecessary duplication
DHS agreed with recommendations to develop policies and guidance for defining, reporting and coordinating R&D activities across the department, and agreed to establish a mechanism to track R&D projects.