Open Recommendations

Ensure that healthcare system staff and responsible finance office staff review all open obligations to ensure balances are valid and should remain open or are closed in a timely manner as required by VA Financial Policy, Obligations, as updated in March 2024.

Ensure that the healthcare system uses appropriated funds in the manner intended by Congress, as required by the VA Financial Policy, Obligations, as updated in March 2024.

Consult with the Office of General Counsel and the Office of Acquisitions, Logistics, and Construction to determine whether a bona fide needs or other appropriations law violation occurred and, if any violations did occur, take appropriate remedial and preventive actions to address them.

Ensure cardholders comply with prior approval, segregation of duties, and record retention requirements as required by VA Financial Policy, volume 16, chapter 1B, Government Purchase Card for Micro-Purchases.

Ensure cardholders and approving officials are aware of the requirement to review purchases and determine when it is in the best interest of the government to use strategic sourcing.

Develop and implement a plan to ensure data accuracy and reliability in the Generic Inventory Package and ensure processes are in place to monitor performance metrics in accordance with Veterans Health Administration policy.

Develop and maintain an effective standardized training program for new and current inventory staff and monitor the staffs knowledge and skill level.

In coordination with the Strategic Acquisition Center, ensure that the Medical Surgical Prime Vendor facility-level contracting officers representatives and ordering officers are appointed and delegated properly and perform all required duties according to the scope and limitation of the designees authority.

In coordination with the Strategic Acquisition Center, submit ratifications for any Medical Surgical Prime Vendor unauthorized commitments in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

The VA Northern Indiana Healthcare System Director evaluates the system clinic cancellation policy and service chief notification to the Chief of Staff of urgent clinic cancellations, and takes action as appropriate.

The VA Northern Indiana Healthcare System Director reviews short-notice clinical cancellations for social work mental health clinics, including the providers clinic, to evaluate patient impact and takes actions as appropriate.

[Description omitted; DOJ has determined that this recommendation contains information that is limited official use or classified.]

[Description omitted; DOJ has determined that this recommendation contains information that is limited official use or classified.]

[Description omitted; DOJ has determined that this recommendation contains information that is limited official use or classified.]

[Description omitted; DOJ has determined that this recommendation contains information that is limited official use or classified.]

[Description omitted; DOJ has determined that this recommendation contains information that is limited official use or classified.]

[Description omitted; DOJ has determined that this recommendation contains information that is limited official use or classified.]

[Description omitted; DOJ has determined that this recommendation contains information that is limited official use or classified.]

[Description omitted; DOJ has determined that this recommendation contains information that is limited official use or classified.]

[Description omitted; DOJ has determined that this recommendation contains information that is limited official use or classified.]

[Description omitted; DOJ has determined that this recommendation contains information that is limited official use or classified.]

[Description omitted; DOJ has determined that this recommendation contains information that is limited official use or classified.]

We recommend that the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance take the following actions: In coordination with the Bureau for Management Office of Acquisition and Assistance, develop a schedule to incorporate the standard provision, "Safeguarding Against Exploitation, Sexual Abuse, Child Abuse, and Child Neglect," in existing Ukraine response awards.

We recommend that the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance take the following actions: Update its Award Filing Guidance to include that all protection from sexual exploitation and abuse-related application materials required in the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance's Emergency Application Guidelines be filed in the Agency Secure Image and Storage Tracking System.

We recommend that the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance take the following actions: Update technical guidance and develop questions for third-party monitors to use during site visits that align with protection from sexual exploitation and abuse-related guidance and
requirements, including the Emergency Application Guidelines.