Relocating Social Security's Central Computer Operations: Recent Agency Planning and Management Has been Good, but Further Precautions Should be Taken to Reduce Risks

摘要

As part of the comprehensive review of the Social Security Administration's (SSA's) systems development plans, we have been monitoring the agency's efforts to relocate its central computer facility from its present location at agency headquarters in suburban Baltimore to a newly constructed computer center building less than a mile away. Although we identified several questionable aspects of SSA's early relocation planning, the agency has acted to resolve these issues and has generally planned and managed the relocation activities well. Nevertheless, SSA's service to the public could be adversely affected if the agency installs service-related systems in the new building before it is totally ready to accept computer operations. Therefore, we believe SSA should closely monitor efforts to solve certain problems that have impeded building readiness and adjust its schedule for relocating service-related systems accordingly.