FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, April 21, 2003

Contact: Michael Reese
(510) 987-9179
Michael.Reese@ucop.edu

UC RELEASES INDEPENDENT RECOMMENDATIONS ON IMPROVEMENTS IN LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY BUSINESS PRACTICES

The University of California today (Monday, April 21) released seven independent reports on core business practices and internal controls at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

The reports culminate two months of observation and operational analysis by a team of more than 20 consultants from the Government Contract Services Group of Ernst & Young LLP.

The firm makes approximately 90 recommendations that cover the range of LANL business practices, including:

· Accounts Payable
· Banking, Including DOE Funding
· Budget Execution
· Cash Receipts and Work for Others
· Information Technologies General and Selected Application Processes
· Payroll Processes and Internal Controls
· Property Management and Property Accounting

The analysis excluded procurement practices, which were the subject of a separate independent study published earlier this year.

The University announced in January that it would commission the independent review. After receiving proposals by consulting firms through a public bid process, UC retained the Ernst & Young group to conduct the independent compliance and operational analysis.

A summary of key recommendations and links to the full reports (pdf) can be found at http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/losalamos/E&Yreport.html.

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