Improvements for Oversight of Cooperative Agreement To Construct the U.S. Geological Survey Energy and Minerals Research Facility

Date Issued

Friday, March 14, 2025

Submitting OIG

Department of the Interior OIG

Agencies Reviewed/Investigated

Department of the Interior

Components

U.S. Geological Survey

Report Number

2023-WR-042

Report Description

We assessed whether USGS administered a cooperative agreement with the Colorado School of Mines for a new facility in accordance with requirements.

Report Type

Audit

Agency Wide

Yes

Number of Recommendations

Questioned Costs

Funds for Better Use

Report updated under NDAA 5274

External Link

Open Recommendations

This report has 3 open recommendations.

Recommendation Number	Significant Recommendation	Recommended Questioned Costs	Recommended Funds for Better Use
2023-WR-042-01	No	$0	$0
We recommend that USGS develop a monitoring plan that documents all oversight activities that will be performed, including roles and responsibilities of project officials.
2023-WR-042-02	No	$0	$0
We recommend that USGS document USGS' substantial involvement in the energy and mineral research facility project, including explicitly detailing what activities USGS considers substantial involvement and identifying roles and responsibilities of that involvement.
2023-WR-042-03	No	$0	$0
We recommend that USGS communicate oversight procedures identified in the monitoring plan and details of substantial involvement developed in response to Recommendations 1 and 2 to the Colorado School of Mines.