NIST Must Improve Monitoring of MEP to Prevent Waste of Financial Resources

Our objective was to determine the adequacy of National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST’s) oversight of MEP to ensure requirements are met. We found that NIST’s inadequate oversight of Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership has led to inefficient use of financial resources and concerns that recipients did not comply with key award terms. Specifically, we found NIST did not require Centers to use unexpended program income (UPI) during the award period and allowed Centers to retain substantial amounts of UPI from federal financial assistance awards; review executive salaries for reasonableness, resulting in Center executives receiving considerable salaries in excess of limits used by other federal agencies; and address potential conflicts of interest amongst recipients.