Today, the NASA Office of Inspector General issued a new audit examining the Agency’s Standing Review Board (SRB) process, which provides independent assessments of programs and projects to improve performance and reduce risk.
SRBs are a vital component of NASA’s system of checks and balances to enhance transparency, accountability, and cooperation. They are composed of independent experts from inside and outside the Agency who assess key aspects of a program or project, including the technical and programmatic approach, risk posture, cost, and schedule. Based on the results of their assessments, SRBs then offer recommendations to NASA senior managers to increase the likelihood of mission success.
Over the last several decades, NASA’s SRB functions have undergone significant changes. The new audit examined whether these revised practices are being effectively implemented and meeting their intended objectives. Auditors found that the SRB process has become decentralized and lacks Agency-level oversight. Improvements are also needed to ensure SRB members can access critical program and project information. The report includes 12 recommendations to address these gaps, improve SRB composition and training, and capture lessons learned.