Open Recommendations

We recommend that the Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education verify that ODE designed andimplemented policies and procedures for calculating the amount of Title I set-aside funds to allocate to each eligible LEAwith schools identified as needing CSI or TSI.

We recommend that the Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education verify that ODE has recordsshowing how it is calculating the amount of Title I set-aside funds to allocate to each eligible LEA with schools identifiedas needing CSI or TSI.

We recommend that the Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education verify that ODE has recordsshowing that it is providing ongoing professional learning and networking, technical assistance, and coaching to LEAswith schools that it identifies as needing CSI or TSI.

Recommend that the Manager, Argonne Site Office, direct the CO, in consultation with the Cognizant Federal Agency Official if not the same individual, to require UChicago Argonne, LLC to implement changes to comply with CAS.

Recommend that the Manager, Argonne Site Office, direct the CO, in consultation with the Cognizant Federal Agency Official if not the same individual, to revise and submit a Disclosure Statement to adequately capture its actual cost accounting practices.

Recommend that the Manager, Argonne Site Office, direct the CO, in consultation with the Cognizant Federal Agency Official if not the same individual, to require UChicago Argonne, LLC to comply with the established payroll and timekeeping policies and procedures.

Recommend that the Manager, Argonne Site Office, direct the CO, in consultation with the Cognizant Federal Agency Official if not the same individual, to require UChicago Argonne, LLC to comply with the established consulting policies and procedures.

Recommend that the Manager, Argonne Site Office, direct the Contracting Officer, in consultation with the Cognizant Federal Agency Official if not the same individual, to ensure that UChicago Argonne, LLC complies with its contractual obligations to conduct an audit of the subcontractor’s costs or arrange for such an audit to be performed and make a final determination on the allowability of the unresolved subcontract costs upon completion of audits.

Recommend that the Manager, Argonne Site Office, direct the Contracting Officer, in consultation with the Cognizant Federal Agency Official to determine the allowability of $4,102,994 in costs questioned in this report and determine the impact of the understated G&A allocation base, as summarized in Appendix 2, and seek appropriate recoveries.

Develop IPT processes and procedures for overseeing contractors to include integration of key roles into the procurement oversight process according to the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan standards.

For IPT procurements including the Agile method, ensure IPT team members who participate in contractor oversight receive appropriate training on their roles and responsibilities.

Ensure CORs formally appoint technical monitors for overseeing the contractors and include in the appointment letter a detailed description of the monitoring responsibilities.

Ensure designated contracting officials document the acceptance of all deliverables in accordance with FAR, PBGC FARS, and/or contract requirements.

Improve controls to properly centralize, maintain and safeguard COR contract files, as required by the FAR and internal policies.

Ensure the annual COR file review process identifies improvements needed in COR files and communicates them to the CORs.

Require the PD to follow up on annual COR file reviews within 90 days to ensure the COR fixed any identified discrepancies.

Develop a control to ensure that options are exercised in accordance with contractual language. Implementing this recommendation could have ensured $1,442 would have been put to better use.

Provide training for individuals responsible for writing contracts to ensure requirements are clear and options comply with the FAR.

For plans paid SFA prior to implementation of the Corporation’s full death audit procedure, continue to implement the new death audit procedures, and rectify with the plans the value attributed to deceased participants to include repayment to Treasury. The estimate from this recommendation results in approximately $250 million in questioned costs, including the $140 million identified in the sampled plans.

Report on NASA’s progress to reexamine available orbital debris tracking tools and offices to ensure all practicable data sources are leveraged to inform ISS operations and ensure crew safety.

Document safety contingency plans and vehicle reassignment rules to help ensure the safe return of crew in the event of an emergency—expanding these efforts to include damage to the Crew Dragon and Starliner.

Develop plans that reflect potential cost savings measures and anticipated reductions in operations for ISS decommissioning.

Update the controlled deorbit plan and ensure the plan includes key commitments, technical, schedule, and cost challenges impacting the 2031 deorbit time frame.

We recommend that the Peace Corps develops a plan to implement automation of the Quality Improvement Unit’s update process and management of Technical Guidelines and to assess its impact on the efficiency and effectiveness in managing and updating Technical Guidelines.

We recommend that the Peace Corps develops a process or mechanism for Peace Corps Medical Officers and other users to report Technical Guidelines that need review, to include a procedure for how the issues will be systematically addressed.