Federal Reports

The audit objectives were to determine whether program funds were managed in accordance with the ARC and Federal grant requirements.

VA has one of the largest acquisition functions in the federal government. In fiscal year 2023, VA obligated over $60.8 billion to provide health care and other benefits to veterans. To modernize its financial and acquisition processes, VA is implementing the Integrated Financial and Acquisition Management System (iFAMS), replacing legacy systems with a single financial and acquisition management system of record.Since iFAMS implementation began in 2020, the VA OIG has repeatedly reported on the system’s increased risks of fraud, waste, and disruptions to operations, as well as deficiencies in its developmental and planning stages. This review focuses on the acquisition module of iFAMS, determining whether it was sufficiently planned and tested to fully meet the acquisition workforce’s requirements. The team’s findings and recommendations are meant to inform future iFAMS deployments.The review team acknowledged the Office of Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction (OALC) and the Financial Management Business Transformation Service (FMBTS) identified system requirements, understood the necessary functionality of iFAMS, and tested the system with stakeholders. However, they did not adequately include acquisition stakeholders in decision-making roles. Further, because OALC and FMBTS did not effectively address the acquisition workforce’s feedback, administration staff have expressed resistance based on concerns that the iFAMS acquisition module may not meet their needs.While the team also recognized VA has taken steps to improve its change management, the OIG made four recommendations. These recommendations include ensuring all VA administrations and staff offices are represented in key decision roles when future acquisitions involve multiple offices. VA should also promote stakeholders’ understanding of system capabilities and complete hiring actions needed to staff the project management office. The final recommendation is to resolve iFAMS challenges and concerns before future deployments. VA concurred with all recommendations.

The AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General (AmeriCorps OIG) investigated an allegation that AmeriCorps members serving at the Community and Economic Development Office (CEDO) in Burlington, VT, were directed to alter previously approved timesheets. The investigation foundevidence that CEDO’s AmeriCorps Program Director had directed five members to alter previously approved timesheets, including altering timesheets weeks after the end of their service terms in order to raise the hours served to meet the minimum threshold to earn Segal Education Awards.

OIG evaluated Foreign Agricultural Service’s controls over agreement funding for the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program.

The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) evaluated facility compliance with Veterans Health Administration (VHA) suicide prevention policy at the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center in Shreveport, Louisiana, in the care of two patients, one who died by suicide and one who attempted suicide.The OIG substantiated that staff failed to comply with VHA policy requirements including• completion of suicide risk screening and assessments;• documentation of response to Veterans Crisis Line requests in the electronic health record;• ensuring a patient had a mental health appointment after a high risk for suicide patient record flag (PRF) placement;• inactivation of a high risk for suicide PRF; and• completion of chart review and family contact form following a patient’s death by suicide.The team identified two additional concerns with one-to-one observation staffing for patients at risk for suicide and suicide prevention team staffing. Facility staff failed to follow facility policy, which required that a one-to-one observation staff member have no other responsibilities. Facility staff revised the policy to clarify one-to-one staffing. The OIG expects facility leaders to monitor one-to-one observation staff member assignments for compliance. While facility and VISN leaders recognized the need for more suicide prevention staff, there were delays with posting of, and difficulty recruiting for, vacant suicide prevention positions.The OIG made one recommendation to the VISN Director related to suicide prevention staff posting and identification of recruitment opportunities and seven recommendations to the Facility Director related to compliance with suicide prevention policy and one-to-one observation staff assignments.The OIG substantiated that staff failed to comply with VHA policy requirements including• completion of suicide risk screening and assessments;• documentation of response to Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) requests in the electronic health record;• ensuring a patient had a mental health appointment after a high risk for suicide patient record flag (PRF) placement;• inactivation of a high risk for suicide PRF; and• completion of chart review and family contact form following a patient’s death by suicide.The team identified two additional concerns with one-to-one observation staffing for patients at risk for suicide and suicide prevention team staffing. Facility staff failed to follow facility policy, which required that a one-to-one observation staff member have no other responsibilities. Facility staff revised the policy to clarify one-to-one staffing. The OIG expects facility leaders to monitor one-to-one observation staff member assignments for compliance. While facility and VISN leaders recognized the need for more suicide prevention staff, there were delays with posting of, and difficulty recruiting for, vacant suicide prevention positions.The OIG made one recommendation to the VISN Director related to suicide prevention staff posting and identification of recruitment opportunities and seven recommendations to the Facility Director related to compliance with suicide prevention policy and one-to-one observation staff assignments.

This update highlights oversight activities of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General from April 1 to June 30, 2024.