Encl (2) to COMDTINST 16010.8
Management Issues
In order for the Coast Guard to provide the internal efficiency necessary
to achieve its outcome goals, certain management issues must be addressed.
Streamlining: The Coast Guard has been at the forefront in Federal
Government streamlining, with a major initiative completed in 1996.
Further savings and efficiencies must be predicated on additional
investments to save. The FY00 request reflects these necessary
investments.
Recapitalization: Replacing aging, maintenance-intensive ships, planes,
and shore infrastructure is critical to sustaining operational capability,
implementing Presidential Initiatives, and providing taxpayers with highly
efficient service. In a recent comprehensive study, the GAO wrote about
reduced levels of AC&I funding and the resultant project deferrals: "A
deferral can also represent a source of increased expenditures for
operations because of the higher maintenance costs involved with aging
equipment. The continued use of aging capital equipment may also place
other limitations on the level of services that can be provided." The
FY00 AC&I request is critical to the recapitalization effort.
Year 2000 Compliance: The Year 2000 problem affects maritime safety, law
enforcement, and environmental protection software applications, as well
as command and control systems, critical electronics, databases, and major
personnel, logistics, and financial applications. We have taken a very
proactive response in dealing with the issue in order to maintain
effective services. The vast majority of efforts will be complete in
FY99. During FY00 we will continue to monitor systems to ensure they are
functioning properly.
The Coast Guard has developed a Year 2000 Management Plan which
outlines the federal "best practices" approach. It provides strategic
guidance for all information technology that faces Y2K problems, and
outlines the timelines for managing the efforts in a five phase
approach - awareness, assessment, renovation, testing, and
implementation.
The Coast Guard has created a Y2K database to capture all systems and
applications that are affected. The database identifies systems that
are critical to accomplishing the Coast Guard's missions.
The Coast Guard is concerned that suppliers of critical parts and
supplies may fail due to their own Y2K problems. To protect against
inadequate on-hand supplies which may prevent mission execution, the
Coast Guard is developing contingency plans for ensuring adequate
on-hand stocks through FY 2000.
The Coast Guard is following a strict compliance reporting system that
requires program managers and product owners of Y2K-affected
mission-critical systems to repair or replace them and then certify
when each item becomes Y2K-compliant.
The Coast Guard has been actively engaged in Y2K outreach efforts with
the maritime industry to ensure the overall safety, mobility, and
economic strength of marine transportation. We have hosted Y2K
Conferences and Industry Days in all the coastal regions. We have also
outreached to professional organizations that interact with the
maritime community such as the American Society of Testing and
Materials.
Management Strategies 53
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