Open Recommendations

We recommend that the Assistant Secretary for OESE ensures that SSA develops, finalizes, and implements writtenguidance and review procedures for staff involved in reviewing and approving alternate assessment waiver and waiverextension requests, to include Steps for SSA staff to verify assessment participation rates (even if this would need tooccur after requests are approved) and actions to be taken if discrepancies are noted; expectations for how staff shoulddocument communication with States during the review process; expectations for how staff should document their reviewand analysis of requirements in the internal memo to clearly show how a State met or did not meet…

We recommend that the Assistant Secretary for OESE ensures that language in the Department’s annual memos toStates with regard to LEA verifications aligns with language included in the regulations to eliminate confusion and clarifyexpectations regarding what information should be included in requests to ensure compliance with State assurance andsubstantial progress requirements, to include specifically addressing progress made on each component of their prioryear plan and timeline.

The American Institute in Taiwan-Taipei, in coordination with the Office of Policy, Planning and Resources of the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, should require the Public Diplomacy Section to fully implement the Public Diplomacy Staffing Initiative.

The American Institute in Taiwan-Taipei should require all grants officers and grants officer representatives to follow existing grants administration standard operating procedures.

The American Institute in Taiwan-Taipei, in coordination with the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, should implement a plan for the American Center to conform to the bureau’s American Spaces standards.

The American Institute in Taiwan-Taipei should comply with Department guidance on passport adjudication.

The American Institute in Taiwan-Taipei should resolve passport services in accordance with Department guidance.

The American Institute in Taiwan-Taipei should manage its immigrant visa records in accordance with Department guidance.

The American Institute in Taiwan-Taipei should complete required visa validation studies, in accordance with Department guidelines.

The American Institute in Taiwan-Taipei, in coordination with the American Institute in Taiwan, Washington Headquarters, should implement a process to formally request and document approvals for exceptions to Department policy, as required by the contract.

The American Institute in Taiwan-Taipei should revise its motor vehicle policy to comply with Department standards on other authorized use of official vehicles.

The American Institute in Taiwan-Taipei should enforce driver safety requirements for all chauffeurs and incidental operators under chief of mission authority in accordance with Department guidelines.

The American Institute in Taiwan-Taipei, in coordination with the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, should evaluate all residential properties for seismic risk in accordance with Department standards.

The American Institute in Taiwan-Taipei, in coordination with the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, should conduct the required annual review of the Japanese Guesthouse property to determine whether the property is economical to retain and if continued U.S. government ownership of the property is justified considering its current use.

The American Institute in Taiwan-Taipei should bring its fire protection program into compliance with Department standards.

The American Institute in Taiwan-Taipei should administer its facility management expendable supplies in accordance with Department standards.

The Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, in coordination with the American Institute in Taiwan-Taipei, the American Institute in Taiwan, Washington Headquarters, the Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services, and the Bureau of Global Talent Management, should establish a working group to develop streamlined payroll processes that also automate the change in duty station of U.S. direct-hire staff when they transfer out of Taiwan.

The American Institute in Taiwan-Taipei, in coordination with the Bureau of Global Talent Management, should bring its local compensation plan into compliance with Taiwan labor laws.

The American Institute in Taiwan-Taipei should implement a records management program that complies with Department standards.

To help ensure indirect funded minor construction projects within Science are in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, Science’s and ANL’s policies and procedures, and Department guidance, we recommend that the Deputy Director for Operations, Science, ensure:1. Indirect funded minor construction projects are reviewed thoroughly by the cognizant site office, using financial subject matter expertise from the Consolidated Service Center as necessary, to make fully informed decisions and verify compliance with Science’s funding guidance;

To help ensure indirect funded minor construction projects within Science are in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, Science’s and ANL’s policies and procedures, and Department guidance, we recommend that the Deputy Director for Operations, Science, ensure:2. The relevant Science policies and processes are updated to reflect that proposed minor construction projects include supplemental materials needed for the Department’s review.

To help ensure indirect funded minor construction projects within Science are in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, Science’s and ANL’s policies and procedures, and Department guidance, we recommend that the Deputy Director for Operations, Science, ensure Argonne Site Office Designated Officials document reasons for changes in proposed funding sources for minor construction projects.

To help ensure indirect funded minor construction projects within Science are in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, Science’s and ANL’s policies and procedures, and Department guidance, we recommend that the Deputy Director for Operations, Science, ensure Argonne Site Office Designated Officials review Science processes to assure validation of scope within an indirect funded minor construction project and appropriate alignment with a common purpose and benefiting base.

To increase transparency and visibility in reviewing and approving indirect funded minor construction projects, we recommend that the Acting Manager, Argonne Site Office, in coordination with the Division Director, ANL’s Project Management Organization: review Science’s updated policies and procedures to assure adequate project information is submitted to Department officials to enable sufficient review and verification of indirect funded minor construction projects prior to approval.

The relevant Science policies and processes are updated to reflect that proposed minor construction projects include supplemental materials needed for the Department’s review.