Open Recommendations

We recommend that USAID/Southern Africa verify that Centre for Community Impact corrects the two instances of material noncompliance detailed on pages 31 and 32 of the audit report.

The Under Secretary for Health conducts a review of the Veterans Integrated Service Network leaders awareness and oversight of the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care Systems operations including clinical staffing, hiring and retention of qualified candidates, and leaders adherence to high reliability organizational principles.

The Under Secretary for Health utilizes the above review to standardize Veterans Integrated Service Network leaders roles and responsibilities across the system to ensure each Veterans Integrated Service Network practices structured and robust oversight activities in support of high-quality healthcare delivery at each healthcare facility.

The Under Secretary for Health evaluates the circumstances that led to Veterans Integrated Service Network leaders lack of awareness of the 11-month curtailment of cardiothoracic surgeries and takes action as needed to ensure effective Veterans Integrated Service Network oversight of facility clinical operations.

The Veterans Integrated Service Network Director ensures facility leaders implement high reliability organization principles to plan for clinical operation changes that include stakeholders, service and section leaders, and staff input.

The Veterans Integrated Service Network Director ensures that the educational needs of the facilitys residents are evaluated and maintained during service and program changes, including on-site supervision, as required by Veterans Health Administration directive.

8. We recommend that the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office update USPTO policy to meet the federal minimum standard of 2 years and 6 months of log retention.

9. We recommend that the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office fully implement log retention controls for USPTO systems according to departmental requirements.

10. We recommend that the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration direct the Office of Privacy and Open Government Director to implement compensating controls and redundant procedures for receiving incidents reported to the Department Chief Privacy Officer.

Update and communicate Delivering for America Plan financial projections based on current conditions and environment.

Develop a plan to track, measure, and communicate progress on initiatives that result from the Delivering for America Plan.

(U) Rec. A.1.a: The DoD OIG recommended that the Garrison Commander, Fort Irwin, direct master planners to update installation Master Plans to include Unified Facilities Criteria 2-100-01, "Installation Master Planning," September 30, 2020 climate change requirements, using information from the completed climate assessment.

(U) Rec. A.1.b: The DoD OIG recommended that the Commanding General, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, direct master planners to update installation Master Plans to include Unified Facilities Criteria 2-100-01, "Installation Master Planning," September 30, 2020 climate change requirements, using information from the completed climate assessment.

(U) Rec. A.1.d: The DoD OIG recommended that the Commander, 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Beale Air Force Base, direct master planners to update installation Master Plans to include Unified Facilities Criteria 2-100-01, "Installation Master Planning," September 30, 2020 climate change requirements, using information from the completed climate assessment.

(U) Rec. A.2.a: The DoD OIG recommended that the Garrison Commander, Fort Irwin, direct master planners to prepare a climate assessment in accordance with Unified Facilities Criteria 2-100-01, "Installation Master Planning," September 30, 2020 requirements and Military Service-specific guidance.

(U) Rec. A.2.b: The DoD OIG recommended that the Commanding General, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, direct master planners to prepare a climate assessment in accordance with Unified Facilities Criteria 2-100-01, "Installation Master Planning," September 30, 2020 requirements and Military Service-specific guidance.

(U) Rec. A.3: The DoD OIG recommended that the Commander of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base incorporate training on the Comprehensive Planning Platform as a training requirement for all Beale Air Force Base personnel responsible for developing and updating the Master Plan.

(U) Rec. A.4: The DoD OIG recommended that the Garrison Commander, Fort Irwin, identify training on requirements for preparing climate assessments and updating the Master Plan and direct all Fort Irwin personnel responsible for preparing climate assessments and updating the Master Plan to take the training.

(U) Rec. A.5: The DoD OIG recommended that the Commanding General, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton incorporate training for preparing climate assessments as a requirement in their training plan to all personnel responsible for preparing climate assessments and updating the Master Plan.

(U) Rec. A.6: The DoD OIG recommended that the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment clearly define what constitutes a current and complete Master Plan, as part of the update to DoD Instruction 4165.70, "Real Property Management," April 6, 2005.

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. 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. 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. 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. 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.