Pursuit's Take
The Department of Homeland Security remains on the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) high-risk list for management of its human capital and integration. In 2013, DHS entered into an agreement to provide the Department with a Performance and Learning Management System (PALMS) to improve the efficiency and oversight of DHS workforce training and performance management. PALMS is a talent management system that integrates learning and performance management capabilities.
DHS PALMS does not address the Department’s critical need for an integrated, department-wide learning and performance management system. As of October 2016, PALMS has not met DHS operational requirements for effective administration of employee learning and performance management activities. This occurred because the PALMS program office did not effectively implement its acquisition methodology and did not monitor contractor performance. GAO also reported in its February 2016 report, GAO-16-253, that the Department experienced programmatic and technical challenges that led to years-long schedule delays. As a result, despite spending $24.2 million as of February 2017, DHS PALMS does not achieve the intended benefits or address the Department’s needs.
In addition, between August 2013 and November 2016, the Department spent more than:
x $5.7 million for unused and partially used
subscriptions;
x $11 million to extend contracts of existing learning
management systems; and
x $813,000 for increased program management costs.