Open Recommendations

Conduct experience study over for theSpouse age difference for seriatim andphase out liability for unlocatable missingparticipant assumptions.

We recommend the DHS Chief Procurement Officer improve its written procedures to ensure only those contracts awarded through other than full and open competition are included in the required report.

We recommend the DHS Chief Financial Officer, with advice from the Office of General Counsel, develop written procedures for generating the required report to sufficiently identify, review, and validate noncompetitive grant award information

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration update the Foreign Affairs Manual to require use of the internal controls developed in response to Recommendation 1 in this OIG report.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, in coordination with the Bureau of Administration, (a) update any bureau-specific motor vehicle procedures in place to comply with the Foreign Affairs Manual and Bureau of Administration guidance within 90 days of final report issuance; and (b) establish a process to review and update these procedures, as appropriate, at least annually thereafter.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, in coordination with the Fleet Management Council, develop and implement a method to accurately record and verify vehicle identification numbers in the Integrated Logistics Management System.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, in coordination with the Fleet Management Council, develop and implement a methodology for posts to use when considering the disposal of an unarmored motor vehicle and codify the methodology in the Foreign Affairs Manual. The methodology should include a quantitative minimum for vehicle age, use, and maintenance costs. The methodology should also require posts to conduct and document a disposal analysis to ensure the vehicle meets the necessary criteria for disposal.

We recommend the DHS Chief Information Officer coordinate with CBP and USCIS to establish a process for reliable interchange of information between data systems used to process and track aliens in the PACR and HARP programs.

We recommend that the Louisiana Department of Health promptly provide notice and cancel the eligibility of beneficiaries identified with income over the allowable limit.

Invest in methods and technologies for removing defunct spacecraft. As part of this effort, conduct a study evaluating the technical merit and cost to investing in active debris removal systems and technologies.

We recommend that the California Department of Health Care Services ensure that the selected provider complies with Federal and State requirements for providing and claiming reimbursement for OTP services.

We recommend that the California Department of Health Care Services verify that the selected provider implements corrective action plans that were approved by the State agency.

We recommend that the California Department of Health Care Services work with the selected provider to improve the quality of care provided to beneficiaries by correcting deficiencies.

Develop, implement, and formally communicate a process to ensure review of all proposed Information Sharing Access Agreements involving personally identifiable information.

We recommend that the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma strengthen policies and procedures by clarifying responsibilities between and within Tribal departments for the review and approval of costs submitted on contractor invoices.

Resolve the $412,363 in questioned subaward costs and direct UF to repay or otherwise remove the sustained questioned costs from its NSF awards.

Direct UF to strengthen the administrative and management internal controls and processes over transferring significant parts of NSF funded research to other organizations. Processes could include: a. Establishing procedures that require UF to verify that, for any subaward established to perform research under an NSF grant awarded to UF, it specifically obtained the NSF Grants Officer’s approval, either as part of the NSF grant budget or through a formal request to transfer the research or effort through NSF’s FastLane system, before issuing a subaward. b. Requiring periodic training for Principal Investigators and other personnel permitted to issue subaward agreements under…

Resolve the $47,226 in questioned participant support, travel, and publication expenses for which UF has not agreed to reimburse NSF and direct UF to repay or otherwise remove the sustained questioned costs from its NSF awards.

Direct UF to provide documentation that it has repaid or otherwise credited the $66,590 of questioned participant support, travel, other direct, and indirect costs for which it has agreed to reimburse NSF.

Direct UF to establish clear guidance regarding the use of participant support cost funding. This guidance should address: a. What types of expenses can be covered by participant support cost funding. b. When to charge project codes dedicated to accumulating participant support costs. c. When and how to request approval to re-budget participant support cost funding, as well as how to document the approval. d. When it is permissible to use participant support costs to provide meals or refreshments during a conference, including how to segregate and account for unallowable participant support costs, such as costs associated with employee meals…

Direct UF to strengthen its administrative and management procedures and internal controls surrounding the purchase of airfare and the approval of travel expense reports. Updated procedures could include: a. Conducting annual training for those individuals responsible for reviewing and approving expense reports within each department. b. Establishing clear guidance regarding the allowability of airfare, lodging, and other travel expenses for accompanying individuals and individuals who did not attend grant-related conferences and whose travel therefore does not benefit the project(s) charged.

Direct UF to strengthen its administrative and management procedures and internal controls surrounding the processing of tuition waivers and relocation expenses to ensure that it only charges NSF for allowable fees and approved relocation allowances.

Direct UF to establish clear guidance regarding the allowability of publication expenses on sponsored projects, including the need to acknowledge NSF funding sources.

Resolve the $83,227 in questioned supplies, software, severance and publication costs for which UF has not agreed to reimburse NSF and direct UF to repay or otherwise remove the sustained questioned costs from its NSF awards.

Direct UF to provide documentation that it has repaid or otherwise credited the $29,600 in questioned lab supplies, materials, travel costs, and tuition fees for which it has agreed to reimburse NSF.