We performed this audit to determine whether Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) has sufficient processes for overseeing vocational rehabilitation (VR) program grantees’ effective use of funds in compliance with applicable requirements. We found that RSA generally had sufficient processes for overseeing State VR agencies’ effective use of funds. These processes included communicating clear, accurate, and timely guidance and technical assistance to State VR agencies; performing annual reviews for all State VR agencies; and conducting periodic onsite and offsite monitoring for selected State VR agencies. However, we found that RSA could strengthen its oversight in key areas by developing documented procedures for its annual reviews, improving its risk assessment processes by incorporating a risk factor that accounts for a State VR agency’s technical assistance needs, and establishing a reasonable period during which all State VR agencies must be subject to onsite or offsite monitoring at least once.
Open Recommendations
| Recommendation Number | Significant Recommendation | Recommended Questioned Costs | Recommended Funds for Better Use | Additional Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | Yes | $0 | $0 | ||
| We recommend that the Assistant Secretary for OSERS require RSA to design and document procedures for its annualreview process. The procedures should be in the form of written policies and procedures or protocols, and designed toensure compliance with applicable requirements, including those covered in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and theDepartment’s “Guide for Managing Formula Grant Programs.” | |||||
| 1.2 | Yes | $0 | $0 | ||
| We recommend that the Assistant Secretary for OSERS require RSA to strengthen its process for selecting State VRagencies to monitor by (a) incorporating a risk factor that accounts for an agency’s technical assistance needs (such asnumber of requests made or complexity of technical assistance needs) into the accountability model used to help selectagencies and (b) establishing a reasonable time period (for example, 8 to 10 years) during which all agencies must bemonitored (through periodic onsite monitoring or offsite monitoring) by RSA at least once. | |||||
