Summary: Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Commerce's compatible computer procurements, focusing on the extent of mainframe computer and mainframe peripheral procurements which required compatibility with a particular computer manufacturer.
GAO found that: (1) from October 1985 through March 1989, Commerce had a total of 114 mainframe and mainframe peripheral procurements, and 80 percent of those required some type of compatibility; (2) Commerce required compatibility with one manufacturer's equipment 56 percent of the time; (3) of the 40 remaining compatible procurements, Commerce required compatibility with another manufacturer's equipment for 32; (4) when Commerce's procurements required compatibility, the manufacturer supplied Commerce the equipment 41 percent of the time; (5) Commerce obligated $61.6 million for the 114 mainframe and mainframe peripheral procurements; (6) for the 91 compatible procurements, Commerce obligated $22.7 million for the second manufacturer's equipment; and (7) Commerce obligated $24.9 million for the first manufacturer's equipment.
