DHS Needs to Strengthen Its Suspension and Debarment Program

We determined that DHS’ Suspension and Debarment Instruction is outdated and is missing needed definitions, as well as detailed requirements and procedures for documenting decisions on administrative agreements, which mandate improvements rather than suspending or debarring companies and organizations. The Department did not adequately document five of seven administrative agreements approved between fiscal year 2012 and February 2017. The Department does not have a centralized system to track suspension and debarment activities, which may have contributed to DHS’ inaccurate FY 2016 reporting of suspensions and debarments. We also determined that for an 8-month period, Federal Emergency Management Agency suspension and debarment staff did not promptly update government-wide systems to reflect debarments and administrative agreements, but they have since uploaded this information. Department-level staffing issues may be hindering efficient and effective handling of suspensions and debarments. We recommended that the Department update the DHS Suspension and Debarment Instruction, implement a centralized department-wide tracking system, enact performance measures in employee performance plans, and examine staffing levels. We made four recommendations to DHS to strengthen its Suspension and Debarment Program and improve oversight and accountability. DHS concurred with our four recommendations and took or planned to take corrective action to improve oversight and accountability in its Suspension and Debarment Program.