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Report File
Date Issued
Submitting OIG
Department of Commerce OIG
Other Participating OIGs
Department of Commerce OIG
Agencies Reviewed/Investigated
Department of Commerce
Components
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Report Number
OIG-24-028-A
Report Description

The objectives of our audit were to determine whether the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (1) claimed allowable, allocable, and reasonable costs, and (2) met performance requirements of the grants.To address this objective, we reviewed $1,676,515.45 in claimed costs and 65 grant award performance progress reports that PRDNER submitted. Overall, we found the following:I. PRDNER claimed costs that were generally allowable, allocable, and reasonable but did not comply with internal and federal regulations. II. PRDNER continues to encounter challenges in meeting the performance requirements of operational awards.

Report Type
Audit
Agency Wide
Yes
Number of Recommendations
5
Questioned Costs
$0
Funds for Better Use
$0
Additional Details
https://www.oig.doc.gov/Pages/The-Puerto-Rico-Department-of-Natural-and-Environ…

Open Recommendations

This report has 5 open recommendations.
Recommendation Number Significant Recommendation Recommended Questioned Costs Recommended Funds for Better Use Additional Details
1 Yes $0 $0

1. We recommend that the NOAA Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator ensure OCM program staff document deviations from the cooperative agreement's budget and awards.

2 Yes $0 $0

2. We recommend that the NOAA Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator implement a financial oversight process to ensure award recipients seek budget revision approvals for any changes to the approved budget categories.

3 Yes $0 $0

3. We recommend that the NOAA Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator ensure PRDNER obtains and retains all required documentation, including (a) all procurement documentation including sole-souce justifications and award decisions from General Services Administration, (b) notifications to NOAA of costs not included in the budget, and (c) approvals from the NOAA Grants Officer, when required.

4 Yes $0 $0

4. We recommend that the NOAA Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator collaborate with PRDNER, Puerto Rico's Office of Management and Budget, and the Office of the Administration and Transformation of Human Resources administrators to develop and implement a plan to hire sufficient staff, or consider subcontracting personnel, to resolve JBNERR's staffing challenges.

5 Yes $0 $0

5. We recommend that the NOAA Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator consider options for a split-operations award with a supporting entity to assist JBNERR in meeting its performance requirements.

Department of Commerce OIG

United States