Congress asks GAO for review of GeoXO weather conditions satellite plan
WASHINGTON — The major Republican members of two oversight committees have questioned the Governing administration Accountability Place of work (GAO) to evaluation a significant new temperature satellite plan.
In a June 1 letter, Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Okla.), the chairman of the Home Science Committee, and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), rating member of the Senate Commerce Committee, requested the evaluate of the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Geostationary Prolonged Functions, or GeoXO, application of next-era weather satellites, citing considerations about price tag overruns and delays.
GeoXO is the successor to the ongoing GOES-R line of geostationary weather conditions satellites that will ensure continuity of observations as perfectly as new capabilities. NOAA jobs investing $19.6 billion more than the daily life of the six-satellite GeoXO system, extending to the center of the century, virtually double what it expended on GOES-R.
In their letter, Lucas and Cruz did not cite any particular problems with GeoXO but rather mentioned prior price tag and program challenges with GOES-R. “The delays and budget overruns in the GOES-R application make it all the much more vital to guarantee that GeoXO is well-managed, as any challenges will be magnified by the better complexity and price of GeoXO,” they wrote.
They questioned that the GAO analyze if NOAA has adopted “best procedures and statutory guidance” in location charge estimates for GeoXO, critique the style and design and advancement of the method, assess NOAA’s procedures to stay on price tag and plan, and glance at how NOAA has integrated classes learned from GOES-R.
The GeoXO application is continue to in its early phases. NOAA chosen L3Harris in March to supply the imager instrument for the satellites under a $765.5 million deal. NOAA options to select a service provider for a new sounder instrument later on in the 12 months.
NOAA requested $417.4 million for GeoXO in its fiscal year 2024 spending plan proposal. The application received $285 million in fiscal calendar year 2023, considerably a lot less than the $653.8 million it requested. Appropriators stated the funding they supplied would be enough to finish formulation reports and award the imager contract.
“NOAA’s latest constellation has proven its value and will carry on to do so for another 10 years. Having said that, NOAA have to concurrently devote in the subsequent generation of environmental satellites with the needs of all of our communities in thoughts,” Rick Spinrad, NOAA administrator, said in his opening statement at a House Science Committee hearing May well 11 about his agency’s budget proposal, noting that the funding for GeoXO and other upcoming satellite programs would “ensure crucial details continuity” from present methods and increase new capabilities.
Spinrad also mentioned at the hearing that he was doing work to create a “rigorous acquisition approach and structure” at NOAA, a single that, for weather satellite applications, will continue on to rely on NASA for handing procurements of satellites and instruments.
“While these appear to be favourable measures,” Lucas and Cruz reported that work in their letter to the GAO, “it is unclear if this new course of action will be profitable.”
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WASHINGTON — The major Republican members of two oversight committees have questioned the Governing administration Accountability Place of work (GAO) to evaluation a significant new temperature satellite plan.
In a June 1 letter, Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Okla.), the chairman of the Home Science Committee, and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), rating member of the Senate Commerce Committee, requested the evaluate of the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Geostationary Prolonged Functions, or GeoXO, application of next-era weather satellites, citing considerations about price tag overruns and delays.
GeoXO is the successor to the ongoing GOES-R line of geostationary weather conditions satellites that will ensure continuity of observations as perfectly as new capabilities. NOAA jobs investing $19.6 billion more than the daily life of the six-satellite GeoXO system, extending to the center of the century, virtually double what it expended on GOES-R.
In their letter, Lucas and Cruz did not cite any particular problems with GeoXO but rather mentioned prior price tag and program challenges with GOES-R. “The delays and budget overruns in the GOES-R application make it all the much more vital to guarantee that GeoXO is well-managed, as any challenges will be magnified by the better complexity and price of GeoXO,” they wrote.
They questioned that the GAO analyze if NOAA has adopted “best procedures and statutory guidance” in location charge estimates for GeoXO, critique the style and design and advancement of the method, assess NOAA’s procedures to stay on price tag and plan, and glance at how NOAA has integrated classes learned from GOES-R.
The GeoXO application is continue to in its early phases. NOAA chosen L3Harris in March to supply the imager instrument for the satellites under a $765.5 million deal. NOAA options to select a service provider for a new sounder instrument later on in the 12 months.
NOAA requested $417.4 million for GeoXO in its fiscal year 2024 spending plan proposal. The application received $285 million in fiscal calendar year 2023, considerably a lot less than the $653.8 million it requested. Appropriators stated the funding they supplied would be enough to finish formulation reports and award the imager contract.
“NOAA’s latest constellation has proven its value and will carry on to do so for another 10 years. Having said that, NOAA have to concurrently devote in the subsequent generation of environmental satellites with the needs of all of our communities in thoughts,” Rick Spinrad, NOAA administrator, said in his opening statement at a House Science Committee hearing May well 11 about his agency’s budget proposal, noting that the funding for GeoXO and other upcoming satellite programs would “ensure crucial details continuity” from present methods and increase new capabilities.
Spinrad also mentioned at the hearing that he was doing work to create a “rigorous acquisition approach and structure” at NOAA, a single that, for weather satellite applications, will continue on to rely on NASA for handing procurements of satellites and instruments.
“While these appear to be favourable measures,” Lucas and Cruz reported that work in their letter to the GAO, “it is unclear if this new course of action will be profitable.”