AT THE REQUEST OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL'S OFFICE STUDIED PHASE IV OF AN ONGOING AIR FORCE PROGRAM TO UPDATE AND STANDARDIZE BASE-LEVEL ADMINISTRATIVE DATA PROCESSING SUPPORT. IT FOUND THAT THE PROPOSED PLANS FOR TWO COMPUTER SYSTEMS AT 105 BASES ARE NOT MISSION ESSENTIAL OR OPERATIONALLY REQUIRED AND WERE DEVELOPED WITHOUT PROPER EVALUATION OF ACTUAL BASE-LEVEL USER REQUIREMENTS. MOREOVER, THESE PLANS WOULD COST AN ADDITIONAL $600 MILLION TO $1 BILLION OVER THE 20-YEAR EXPECTED LIFE OF THE PROPOSED SYSTEMS. GAO REVIEW OF CURRENT BASE OPERATIONS INDICATED THAT A SINGLE COMPUTER SYSTEM COULD HANDLE ALL REQUIREMENTS EFFECTIVELY AND WITHOUT LOSS OF OPERATIONAL RELIABILITY. GAO RECOMMENDED CANCELLING CURRENT PLANS IN FAVOR OF A MORE FLEXIBLE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS REFLECTING ACTUAL NEEDS, PROPERLY DEFINED SPECIFICATIONS THAT WOULD NOT BE RESTRICTIVE TO COMPETITORS, AND A SOUND SURVEY OF THE VENDOR MARKET. TABULAR DATA AND CORRESPONDENCE ARE INCLUDED. (KHM)