Open Recommendations

We recommend the Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training monitor states administering unemployment insurance programs subsidized with federal funds, including temporary programs such as Short-Time Compensation, to ensure compliance with the 3-year records retention requirements established in the Code of Federal Regulations (2 C.F.R. § 200.334).

Create detailed criteria in the cooperative agreements on the data validation controls they expect the CNAs to apply.

Research data elements needed to achieve Program objectives and revise the corresponding cooperative agreements with CNAs

Revisit/review controls related to updating website contents to ensure current and accurate information is published.

Implement internal controls to oversee the reporting and data validation process.

Create a standard operating procedure to collect and handle data and define roles and responsibilities for enhanced operational efficiency

Develop a unified information system for use by the Commission, CNAs, and NPAs participating in the Program.

We recommend that USAID/Kenya and East Africa determine the allowability of $138,322 in ineligible questioned costs on pages 16, 17, 23, and 24 of the audit report and recover any amount that is unallowable.

We recommend that USAID/Kenya and East Africa verify that Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital corrects the two instances of material noncompliance detailed on pages 35 to 36 of the audit report.

Work with the National Targeting Center to establish other means to manage risks, if any, posed by visa holders who received interview waivers from the Dos.

Develop and implement a comprehensive plan to perform trend analyses and analyze risks posed by individuals whose consular interviews were waived by the Dos with data captured at mitigation plans., and using the results, develop and implement mitigation plans.

NRCS needs to prioritize the correction of outstanding inaccurate IIJA WFPO reporting on USAspending.gov and ensure existing award data are accurately reported to the public in accordance with OMB and DATA Act requirements.

NRCS needs to design and implement internal control activities over information processing to address inaccurate reporting identified in Recommendation 1 to ensure compliance with OMB and DATA Act requirements and the accuracy of future reporting of IIJA WFPO data on USAspending.gov.

NRCS should ensure it documents its merit review and selection process for competitive awards and adequately documents the methodology used to select the best projects for funding.

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.