ES, IG-98-031, National Technology Transfer Center

NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTER
IG-98-031

Executive Summary

Introduction
The National Technology Transfer Center (NTTC) fosters NASA and Federal technology transfers with U.S. industry and provides businesses with access to information, expertise, and facilities. Located at Wheeling Jesuit University (the University) in Wheeling, West Virginia, NTTC operates under a 5-year cooperative agreement ⁽¹⁾ with NASA. NTTC is one element in NASA's technology transfer network. Other major elements include the 6 Regional Technology Transfer Centers (RTTCs) and the 10 Center Technology Offices at NASA field installations. The Commercial Programs Division, Office of Aeronautics and Space Transportation Technology, provides management oversight of NASA-wide technology activities. Prior Office of Inspector General and other reviews are shown in Appendix D.

Objectives
The audit objective was to answer the following questions:

Is the NTTC effectively carrying out its stated functions? Can these functions be performed more efficiently and cost-effectively by some other existing method?
Do any of the functions performed by NTTC duplicate activities conducted by other NASA technology transfer organizations?
What metrics does NASA use to measure NTTC performance?
Is the NTTC managed in accordance with an operating plan?
Does NASA provide appropriate oversight of NTTC?
See Appendix A for scope and methodology information.

Results of Audit
The following issues require management's attention:

NASA needs to clarify NTTC's mission. In 1995 NASA directed NTTC to shift from a national to a NASA technology transfer focus without formally defining NTTC's revised mission. Consequently, NTTC's mission is unclear, similar to that of the RTTCs, and not fully integrated into NASA's technology transfer organization. Also, some NASA-specific activities are inappropriate under the cooperative agreement.
NTTC's monthly reports to NASA do not include enough information on NTTC's performance to assist NASA in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities.
NTTC charged NASA $19,500 of unallowable salary costs for the former NTTC Executive Director.
The "Findings and Recommendations" section of this report describes these issues in detail.

Recommendations
We recommended that the Director, Commercial Programs Division, clearly define the NTTC and RTTC missions, incorporate the revised missions in award instruments, acquire services related to technology transfer activities by using the appropriate award instrument, and revise the format of the NTTC monthly report. We also recommended the recovery of unallocable costs.

Management's Response
Management concurred or partially concurred with all recommendations.

Evaluation of Management's Response
Management's planned actions are responsive to the recommendations.

FOOTNOTE

1. Cooperative Agreement NCCW-0065 was awarded on November 1, 1994, for $49 million.

Introduction	The National Technology Transfer Center (NTTC) fosters NASA and Federal technology transfers with U.S. industry and provides businesses with access to information, expertise, and facilities. Located at Wheeling Jesuit University (the University) in Wheeling, West Virginia, NTTC operates under a 5-year cooperative agreement ⁽¹⁾ with NASA. NTTC is one element in NASA's technology transfer network. Other major elements include the 6 Regional Technology Transfer Centers (RTTCs) and the 10 Center Technology Offices at NASA field installations. The Commercial Programs Division, Office of Aeronautics and Space Transportation Technology, provides management oversight of NASA-wide technology activities. Prior Office of Inspector General and other reviews are shown in Appendix D.
Objectives	The audit objective was to answer the following questions: Is the NTTC effectively carrying out its stated functions? Can these functions be performed more efficiently and cost-effectively by some other existing method? Do any of the functions performed by NTTC duplicate activities conducted by other NASA technology transfer organizations? What metrics does NASA use to measure NTTC performance? Is the NTTC managed in accordance with an operating plan? Does NASA provide appropriate oversight of NTTC? See Appendix A for scope and methodology information.
Results of Audit	The following issues require management's attention: NASA needs to clarify NTTC's mission. In 1995 NASA directed NTTC to shift from a national to a NASA technology transfer focus without formally defining NTTC's revised mission. Consequently, NTTC's mission is unclear, similar to that of the RTTCs, and not fully integrated into NASA's technology transfer organization. Also, some NASA-specific activities are inappropriate under the cooperative agreement. NTTC's monthly reports to NASA do not include enough information on NTTC's performance to assist NASA in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities. NTTC charged NASA $19,500 of unallowable salary costs for the former NTTC Executive Director. The "Findings and Recommendations" section of this report describes these issues in detail.
Recommendations	We recommended that the Director, Commercial Programs Division, clearly define the NTTC and RTTC missions, incorporate the revised missions in award instruments, acquire services related to technology transfer activities by using the appropriate award instrument, and revise the format of the NTTC monthly report. We also recommended the recovery of unallocable costs.
Management's Response	Management concurred or partially concurred with all recommendations.
Evaluation of Management's Response	Management's planned actions are responsive to the recommendations.