Architect of the Capitol: Incorporating All Leading Practices Could Improve Accuracy and Credibility of Projects' Cost Estimates.

摘要

AOC is responsible for the maintenance, renovation, and new construction of the U.S. Capitol complex, which comprises more than four dozen facilities. Reliable cost estimates for projects are crucial to AOC's capital-planning and construction processes. The House Appropriations Committee report accompanying the fiscal year 2014 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill mandated that GAO review AOC's cost-estimating methodology. This report addresses the extent to which AOC's policies and guidance for developing cost estimates adheres to leading practices. GAO analyzed AOC's cost-estimating guidance, interviewed AOC officials, and compared AOC's cost-estimating guidance and documentation and two projects' cost estimates to leading practices in GAO's Cost Guide . When most or all of the practices associated with each characteristic of a high-quality, reliable estimate are followed, GAO considers the characteristic to be fully or substantially met. When, in turn, all four characteristics are at least fully or substantially met, GAO considers a cost estimate to be reliable.