Federal Reports

We focused on the Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) membership revocations of three U.S. citizens associated with the migrant caravan and whether CBP revoked the TTP memberships in retaliation for the individuals’ support of the migrant caravan.

In October 2017, VA entered into an interagency agreement with the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to use its Electronic Catalog (ECAT) to order VA medical supplies and equipment not available through existing contracts. VA created the ECAT Ordering Guide to describe VA policies and procedures for placing orders and to outline the ordering officials’ responsibilities. As of April 1, 2021, VA had spent approximately $592 million on purchases through ECAT.The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted this review to determine whether VA’s procurements of medical supplies and equipment through ECAT complied with acquisition regulations, policies, and the terms of the interagency agreement. The OIG found that the Procurement and Logistics Office (P&LO) did not adequately govern the ECAT program. The ECAT Ordering Guide excludes the requirement for VA ordering officials to consider the Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) contracts for sales orders; purchasing through FSS could have saved VA up to $4.4 million. The guide also incorrectly describes how to apply the Rule of Two, potentially excluding veteran-owned businesses from contracting opportunities. Ordering officials did not follow documentation requirements in the ECAT Ordering Guide, and P&LO did not conduct required annual reviews of the interagency agreement.The OIG made six recommendations. The ECAT Ordering Guide should be updated to clarify the requirement that staff must consider FSS contracts before ordering through ECAT. VA should also monitor orders to identify recurring acquisitions that could be purchased through other contracts at lower prices and require justifications for ECAT orders if FSS contracts are available and not used. Additionally, P&LO should correct the Rule of Two diagram in the ordering guide and monitor compliance, establish a process to ensure documentation and audits of orders meet ordering guide requirements, and conduct and document annual reviews as required in the interagency agreement.

This Office of Inspector General (OIG) Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program report provides a focused evaluation of the leadership performance and oversight by Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 8: VA Sunshine Healthcare Network in St. Petersburg, Florida, covering leadership and organizational risks and key processes associated with promoting quality care. This inspection also focused on COVID-19 Pandemic Readiness and Response; Quality, Safety, and Value; Medical Staff Credentialing; Environment of Care; Mental Health: Suicide Prevention; Care Coordination: Inter-facility Transfers; and Women’s Health: Comprehensive Care.The VISN’s executive leadership team had worked together since May 2019. The Chief Financial Officer, who was assigned in 2008, was the most tenured leader. Employee satisfaction survey scores indicated that VISN leaders were engaged and promoted a culture where employees felt safe bringing forward issues and concerns. VISN patient experience survey results were better than the VHA averages for inpatient care and on par with VHA averages for outpatient care. The OIG’s review of access metrics and clinical vacancies identified potential organizational risks. The executive leaders seemed to support efforts to improve and maintain patient safety, quality care, and other positive outcomes. They were also knowledgeable within their scope of responsibilities about selected Strategic Analytics for Improvement and Learning metrics and should continue to take actions to sustain and improve performance.The OIG issued two recommendations for improvement:(1) Medical Staff Credentialing• Physician credential review process(2) Women’s Health• Annual site visit completion