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.

Verify that Akko Center for Arts and Technology corrects the material instance of noncompliance, detailed on page 15 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.

The VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System Director reviews root cause analysis requirements for interviewing individuals relevant to root cause analyses and ensures staff are trained accordingly.

We recommend that USAID/Kenya and East Africa determine the allowability of $75,925 in ineligible questioned costs on pages 17 and 28 of the audit report and recover any amount that is unallowable.

(U) Rec. 1.a: The DoD OIG recommended that the Office of Defense Cooperation-Ukraine Chief, in coordination with the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, update the 2023 Concept of Operation to make it clear that the requirements in the 2023 Concept of Operation have priority over the defense article control plan requirements for enhanced end?use monitoring initial loss notifications and final loss reports for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, including clearly defined report timelines, contents, and procedures.

(U) Rec. 1.b: The DoD OIG recommended that the Office of Defense Cooperation-Ukraine Chief, in coordination with the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, develop and publish procedures for faster retrieval of critical information from final loss report investigations.

(U) Rec. 2.b: The DoD OIG recommended that the Commander of the U.S. European Command, in coordination with the Office of Defense Cooperation-Ukraine Chief, coordinate with the Ukrainian Armed Forces to revise the November 2023 Concept of Operation to require loss reports include enhanced end-use monitoring-designated defense articles potentially captured by an adversary.

1. We recommend that the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office align USPTO policy with departmental requirements to have all USPTO employees report all IT security incidents, including PII exposure, immediately (within 1 hour) once an incident is suspected or confirmed.

5. We recommend that the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office hold USPTO leadership accountable to comply with USPTO risk acceptance policies and procedures.

6. We recommend that the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office establish a requirement within USPTO risk acceptance policies and procedures to consider violations of the Privacy Act during IT security incidents.

7. We recommend that the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office reassess the non-mission-critical designation of TSDR and other systems supporting the trademark process.

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.c: The DoD OIG recommended that the Commanding Officer, Naval Base Coronado, 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.