26 

 SUBMSSIONS FOR THE RECORD 



PREPARED STATEMENT OF JIM WELLS 



We are pleased to be here today to discuss the findings of our report to this Com- 

 mittee, which we are releasing today, entitled Federal Research: Aging Federal Labo- 

 ratories Need Repairs and Upgrades (GAO/RCED-93-203). Citing the importance of 

 federal research and development (R&D) to economic growth and national well- 

 being, Mr. Vice Chairman, you expressed concern that federal research agencies may 

 be underinvesting in maintaining, repairing, and upgrading their laboratories. Accord- 

 ingly, you requested that we assess the (1) condition of federal laboratory facilities, (2) 

 effect of inadequate laboratory facilities on agencies' scientific productivity and re- 

 search capabilities, and (3) funding needed to repair or upgrade these facilities. 



The information in our report is primarily based on data provided by eight federal 

 agencies for 220 government-owned laboratories that spent about $18.1 billion of the 

 estimated $24.9 billion obligated for R&D at federal laboratories in fiscal year 1992. 

 These agencies are the Departments of Commerce, Defense (DOD), and Energy 

 (DOE); the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); the National Aeronautics and 

 Space Administration (NASA); the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), within the 

 Department of Agriculture (USDA); the National Institutes of Health (NIH), within 

 the Department of Health and Human Services; and the Geological Survey (USGS), 

 within the Department of the Interior. We also interviewed facilities managers for 

 each agency and laboratory management, researchers, and facilities managers at the 

 eight federal laboratories we visited. 



In summary, 54 percent of the floor space of the eight federal agencies' laborato- 

 ries was more than 30 years old. Typical problems among the agencies' laboratories, 

 according to agencies' facilities managers, included leaking roofs and inadequate venti- 

 lating systems that do not meet industry standards for circulating air. In addition, 

 many older laboratories are obsolete-they were not designed to meet today's ad- 

 vanced R&D needs and health and safety code requirements. 



The federal laboratory facilities managers and researchers we interviewed identi- 

 fied several instances, particularly involving old ventilating systems and power outages, 

 in which aging laboratory facilities substantially reduced scientific productivity. In ad- 

 dition, several agencies cited the need for advanced laboratory facilities that provide 

 greater flexibility to respond to new programs and scientists' research needs. 



The eight agencies reported a backlog of more than $3.8 billion in needed repairs 

 for their laboratories, and facilities managers for four agencies said that funding for 

 repairs was only slighdy adequate or inadequate. Furthermore, funding to renovate 

 existing laboratory mcilities or construct new ones was either only slighdy adequate or 

 inadequate at six agencies. 



Four of the eight agencies recently initiated task forces to reexamine their R&D 

 mission and/or improve the effectiveness and efficiency of their laboratory facilities. 

 Reassessing agencies' R&D missions is critical before spending large sums of money 

 on old and often outdated structures. Such task force efforts provide a basis for deter- 

 mining whether to realign, consolidate, or close laboratories and to increase funding 

 for laboratory facilities considered essential for fulfilling agencies' R&D missions. 



BACKGROUND 



Laboratory facilities, along with scientists and research equipment, provide the 

 basis for conducting advanced R&D at federal laboratories. These facilities include 

 laboratory buildings; heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems; electrical 

 power supply systems; and water and sewerage systems. Laboratory facilities need to 

 be properly maintained and repaired to continue to work well. In addition, aging labo- 

 ratory facilities may need to be upgraded-either by renovating existing buildings or 



