Oversight of PBS’s Projects Funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: Audit of Paving Project at New York State’s Northern Border

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Date Issued

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Submitting OIG

General Services Administration OIG

Other Participating OIGs

General Services Administration OIG

Agencies Reviewed/Investigated

General Services Administration

Report Number

A220036P2R24008

Report Type

Audit

Agency Wide

Yes

Number of Recommendations

Questioned Costs

Funds for Better Use

Open Recommendations

This report has 11 open recommendations.

Recommendation Number	Significant Recommendation	Recommended Questioned Costs	Recommended Funds for Better Use
1	Yes	$0	$0
We recommend that the PBS Commissioner establish supplemental policies, training, and oversight procedures to ensure contractors comply with federal regulations when using drones on federal buildings, grounds, and property, regardless of funding sources.
2	Yes	$0	$0
We recommend that the PBS Regional Commissioner for the Northeast and Caribbean Region implement controls and training to ensure that PBS contracting staff use proper contract vehicles to procure construction contracts so that the Competition in Contracting Act is not violated.
3	Yes	$0	$0
We recommend that the PBS Regional Commissioner for the Northeast and Caribbean Region ensure that the PBS contracting staff are trained on their responsibilities with respect to: documenting and supporting independent government estimates and price reasonableness determinations; and segregating duties performed in making price reasonableness determinations.
4	Yes	$0	$0
We recommend that the PBS Regional Commissioner for the Northeast and Caribbean Region ensure that the PBS contracting staff responsible for the administration of construction contracts and task orders are trained on their responsibilities with respect to: acquisition planning; evaluating contractor’s experience and past performance prior to awarding a contract to ensure the contractor is qualified to perform the work; establishing and obtaining a construction warranty and performance and payment bonds for construction contracts; and entering accurate and complete contract information in FPDS-NG.
5	Yes	$0	$0
We recommend that the PBS Regional Commissioner for the Northeast and Caribbean Region establish controls to ensure compliance with GSA environmentally preferable material standards and report accurate information to the taxpayers.
6	Yes	$0	$0
We recommend that the PBS Regional Commissioner for the Northeast and Caribbean Region properly train regional PBS contracting staff on the proper management, usage, and oversight of drones and drone operators on PBS projects in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and GSA policies.
7	Yes	$0	$0
We recommend that the PBS Regional Commissioner for the Northeast and Caribbean Region implement controls and training to ensure that PBS contracting staff provide adequate oversight and do not violate small business subcontracting limitations to create “pass- through” environments for large or ineligible businesses.
8	Yes	$0	$0
We recommend that the PBS Regional Commissioner for the Northeast and Caribbean Region ensure that PBS contracting staff comply with security clearance requirements and that contractors working on government contracts have the appropriate clearances.
9	Yes	$0	$0
We recommend that the PBS Regional Commissioner for the Northeast and Caribbean Region establish controls to ensure that CORs review certified payroll records and perform labor interviews, as appropriate, prior to approval of invoices to verify that contractor and subcontractor employees are paid in accordance with federal Construction Wage Rate Requirements.
10	Yes	$0	$0
We recommend that the PBS Regional Commissioner for the Northeast and Caribbean Region establish controls to ensure that PBS contracting staff properly evaluate independent government estimates to ensure the government is not overpaying for contractor services and provide oversight to ensure contractors perform required services.
11	Yes	$0	$0
We recommend that the PBS Regional Commissioner for the Northeast and Caribbean Region train PBS contracting staff on their responsibilities with respect to: closing out the contract files in accordance with the FAR; completing contractor performance assessment reports within 120 calendar days, in accordance with the CPARS guide; and preparing and implementing oversight procedures to ensure contract files include complete and accurate contract documentation in accordance with the FAR, GSAM, and other applicable policies.