Improvements Needed to DOI’s and Bureaus’ Oversight of Radio Infrastructure

Submitting OIG:

Report Description:

We found that the bureaus generally did not properly inventory or inspect radio infrastructure as required by the DOI OCIO directive.

Date Issued:

Tuesday, August 13, 2024

Agency Reviewed / Investigated:

Department of the Interior

Submitting OIG-Specific Report Number:

2021-WR-020

Component, if applicable:

Bureau of Indian Affairs

Bureau of Land Management

National Park Service

Office of the Chief Information Officer

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Location(s):

Agency-Wide

Type of Report:

Inspection / Evaluation

Questioned Costs:

Funds for Better Use:

Number of Recommendations:

Report updated under NDAA 5274:

View Document:

Attachment	Size
Final-Evaluation-ReportDOI-Oversight-Radios-Needs-ImprovementPublic.pdf	5.42 MB

Recommendation Number	Recommendation Status	Significant Recommendation
2021-WR-020-01	Open	Yes
We recommend that the DOI OCIO update the OCIO Directive on radio communications site standards (OCIO Directive No. 2010–008) to improve consistency by including specific guidance regarding how bureaus should track radio infrastructure inventories and manage their radio programs.
2021-WR-020-02	Open	Yes
We recommend that the DOI OCIO develop a mechanism to enforce all radio communications site requirements (OCIO Directive No. 2010–008), including the requirement for bureaus to inventory their radio infrastructure and the requirements for bureaus to complete baseline condition assessments, annual condition assessments, and corrective actions of their radio infrastructure.
2021-WR-020-03	Open	No
We recommend that the BIA develop and implement an action plan to ensure its radio infrastructure inventory is complete and accurate. This plan should include—at a minimum—steps to be taken, resources needed, and milestones.
2021-WR-020-04	Open	No
We recommend that the BIA complete baseline condition assessments for all radio communication sites in accordance with the updated OCIO Directive.
2021-WR-020-05	Open	No
We recommend that the BIA develop and implement a comprehensive plan to ensure that, in compliance with the updated OCIO Directive, annual condition assessments of all radio infrastructure are completed and corrective actions are promptly taken.
2021-WR-020-06	Open	No
We recommend that the BIA develop and implement a plan to bring the Wolf Mountain radio site into compliance with DOI radio communication standards.
2021-WR-020-07	Open	No
We recommend that the BIA after the issuance of the updated OCIO Directive, develop and implement a policy that includes comprehensive procedures for recording radio infrastructure inventories, conducting condition assessments of radio infrastructure, and addressing identified corrective actions to ensure bureauwide and Departmentwide consistency and compliance with OCIO Directives.
2021-WR-020-08	Open	No
We recommend that the BIA conduct a comprehensive assessment of its radio communications program to determine whether it has the internal controls, appropriate senior responsible official(s), staffing, funding, technology, systems, and other resources necessary to effectively manage radio communications.
2021-WR-020-09	Open	No
We recommend that the BIA develop and implement an action plan with measurable goals and milestones to address gaps identified by the radio communication program assessment.
2021-WR-020-10	Open	No
We recommend that the BLM complete baseline condition assessments for any radio communication sites that have not been assessed, in accordance with the updated OCIO Directive.

Recommendation Number

Recommendation Status

Significant Recommendation

Additional Details

2021-WR-020-01

Open

Yes

We recommend that the DOI OCIO update the OCIO Directive on radio communications site standards (OCIO Directive No. 2010–008) to improve consistency by including specific guidance regarding how bureaus should track radio infrastructure inventories and manage their radio programs.

2021-WR-020-02

Open

Yes

We recommend that the DOI OCIO develop a mechanism to enforce all radio communications site requirements (OCIO Directive No. 2010–008), including the requirement for bureaus to inventory their radio infrastructure and the requirements for bureaus to complete baseline condition assessments, annual condition assessments, and corrective actions of their radio infrastructure.