Manzano #36 - One of dozens of locations where millions of dollars of common-use computer & electronic test equipment become technologically obsolete while in storage for years Idle Common-use Computer and Electronic Test Equipment 8-11 Dozens of idle common-use Electronic Test Instruments and Power Supplies, and Laser Optics Components Numerous Morgan buildings throughout the SNL complex have similar stockpiles of common-use computer & electronic test equipment becoming technologically obsolete while in storage for years Mrs. THURMAN. There are pictures included in the report on Sandia conducted in April. This is not some problem that happened in the deep, dark past. These pictures were taken less than 5 months ago. They were taken a year after the pictures taken during the IG's February, 1993, investigation, which were introduced earlier. What would we tell our constituents about how well the Department of Energy property management program is protecting their tax dollars? General DURHAM. Well, I think the first thing that I would tell them, in going back to Congressman Skaggs' comment, is that take care of the post, I believe he said, and all properties in view, make sure that it's accounted for. The first thing I would tell him is that's exactly what, at least this team that's on board, is doing right now. And you asked a series of questions in regard to things that have happened over time. And I can tell you having 52 contracts and over 15 billion dollars worth of equipment, which might equate to hundreds of thousands of line items, it is the scope of it is a tremendous undertaking. And we're biting that elephant one bite at a time. But we feel that the first things that we need to do, which we have done, is institute contract reform, then start to lay out the foundation of a good, sound property management program with the principles that I have outlined in my testimony. And the implementation process is multifaceted. It is not only going to be in the contracts, but it is also going to be in the incentives that I have talked about. So there's a whole tool box, if you will, of remedies that we plan to bring to bear. And I would let the taxpayer know that we are aware of the problem, that we're doing something about the problem, that it's going to take time for these to take hold and take effect. In fact, I've heard testimony even by the GAO that there it might take 7 to 10 years. We are more optimistic than this. Mrs. THURMAN. Good. General DURHAM. We think we will get results in a lot sooner period of time than that. It is not something that will happen overnight. think the most important thing that I can leave with this committee is that we are committed to change. We are committed to changing our business practices. We're committed to doing a better job at property management. And we are committed to putting in place the tools that will make that happen. And most of those tools will apply to bringing incentives for the contractor as well as the Federal manager. Both the contractor and the Federal manager to do a better job. And that's where I think the weakness has been in the past. Mrs. THURMAN. I just have to get this out to you, that this is as late as April, 1994. The other part of this is Sandia laboratory has actually-DOE has been overseeing them for decades. It has been performing these reviews of the property management system for years, as recently as March, 1991. As recently as March 1991, the Albuquerque operations office considered the Sandia system approved, but the IG was there writ |