A survey by the Government Accountability Office has found that agency project managers are “generally satisified” with the information technology support services they have received from the Office of Management and Budget‘s U.S. Digital Service and the General Services Administration‘s 18F organization.GAO said in a report published Thursday it found that 18F provided development and consulting services to 18 agencies on 32 digital service projects reviewed while USDS mainly provided consulting assistance to 11 agencies on 13 projects as of August 2015.
The survey also showed 16 project managers surveyed were “very satisfied” with 18F’s support work, seven respondents were “moderately satisfied” and another three were “moderately dissatisfied.”
Six project managers who responded to the GAO survey said they were “very satisfied” with the assistance given by USDS while three were “moderately satisfied” and four had no response, GAO said.
Auditors called on GSA and OMB to update goals and performance measurement since 18F and USDS’ separate goals are not completely outcome-oriented.
GAO noted OMB has established charters for the digital services teams of six out of 25 agencies that are included in President Barack Obama’s proposed budget for agency digital service teams.
According to the congressional watchdog, USDS aims to establish charters with the Education Department and the Small Business Administration by the end of the current fiscal year.
Eight agencies have told GAO they aim to create digital service teams but have yet to establish charters with USDS while nine agencies said they do not plan to establish digital service teams by September and most claimed that they did not receive requested funds to do so.
GAO also recommended that OMB update its policy on the relationship between agency chief information officers and digital services teams.
