Open Recommendations

Embassy Beirut, in coordination with the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, should bring its fire protection program into compliance with Department standards.

Embassy Beirut, in coordination with the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, should report all unauthorized construction projects and rectify each project in accordance with Department standards.

Embassy Beirut should obtain authorization from the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations to use shipping containers for permanent storage or dismantle and remove them in accordance with Department requirements.

Embassy Beirut should bring its contracting officer’s representative program into compliance with Department standards.

Embassy Beirut should enforce driver duty limits for all embassy drivers in accordance with Department guidelines.

Embassy Beirut should require the Beirut Recreation Association Board of Directors to comply with Department standards and its own by-laws regarding its oversight responsibilities.

Embassy Beirut should implement internal controls to ensure government resources are used in accordance with Department standards.

Embassy Beirut should train locally employed information management staff in accordance with Department standards.

Embassy Beirut should perform information systems security officers’ duties in accordance with Department standards.

Embassy Beirut should comply with Department standards for managing its dedicated internet networks.

Embassy Beirut should implement a records management program in accordance with Department standards.

Embassy Beirut, in coordination with the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, should relocate stored items to climate-controlled storage outside the unclassified server room to conform to Department and Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards.

Rec. 1.b: The DoD OIG recommended that the Army Contracting Command-Rock Island Executive Director request a refund from the contractor for any excess payment or arrange for payment to the contractor for any under-billed costs identified by the Defense Contract Audit Agency.

Rec. 1.c: The DoD OIG recommended that the Army Contracting Command-Rock Island Executive Director issue guidance to reinforce the importance of the contracting officer and contracting officer's representative roles and involvement in review of invoices prior to payment.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), in coordination with the Bureau of Administration, comply with Department of State guidance to address the schedule delay for New Embassy Compound Mexico City, Mexico. Specifically, OBO, in coordination with the Bureau of Administration, must (1) determine the type of delay (excusable, nonexcusable, or compensable), (2) document the delay, (3) develop the government’s position, (4) discuss the government’s position with the contractor, (5) adjust the government’s position based on the discussions with the contractor, and (6) prepare a final decision.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, working collaboratively with Caddell Construction Co, LLC, develop and implement an action plan to ensure the Project Execution Schedule meets all the purposes outlined in Contract Specification 013205, paragraph 1.4 for Contract SAQMMA17C0287, NEC Mexico City, Mexico.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), in coordination with the Bureau of Administration, evaluate and respond to the Time Impact Analysis (TIA) prepared by the contractor to determine whether a schedule extension was justified for the unilateral modification P00066 to the New Embassy Compound Mexico City, Mexico. In accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation and Department of State policy, OBO, in collaboration with the Bureau of Administration, must (1) prepare a prenegotiation memorandum and a findings of fact that include a TIA, (2) issue a decision on the prenegotiation memorandum, (3) proceed with negotiations, including discussion…

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), in coordination with the Bureau of Administration, assess time as part of their independent government cost estimate process and evaluate and respond to the Time Impact Analysis (TIA) prepared by the contractor for all outstanding requests for proposals to the New Embassy Compound Mexico City, Mexico, project when preparing an independent government cost estimate. In accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation and Department of State policy, OBO, in collaboration with the Bureau of Administration, must (1) prepare a prenegotiation memorandum and a findings of fact that include TIAs, (2) issue…

We recommend AOC management develop a process that will assess and monitor payment accuracy in its program and activities:1. The process should include procedures to identify and assess all programs and activities that are susceptible to significant improper payments annually (max triennially).2. For programs and activities identified as susceptible to significant improper payments, the AOC should consider the following procedures using the Office of Management and Budget guidance:i. Perform testing to estimate the cost of improper payments in the program;ii. Implement a plan to reduce erroneous payments;iii. Report estimates of the annual amount of improper payments in programs and activities…

We recommend AOC management execute the process that assesses and monitors payment accuracy in its program and activities every one to three years.

We recommend AOC management design a recovery plan that is consistent with federal guidance for implementation when improper payments are identified.

Revise Security and Hazardous Materials Safety Order 1600.20 guidance to avoid overlap or contradiction with similar procedures contained in FAA Order 1600.38.

We recommend that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services correct the inaccurately reported deficiencies that we identified for the sampled nursing homes.

We recommend that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services correct existing programming in ASPEN that prevented the 56 emergency preparedness deficiencies from being reported on Care Compare.

We recommend that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services strengthen its processes for reviewing inspection results reported on Care Compare by requiring State survey agencies to verify that deficiencies shown in ASPEN are also shown in CASPER when they are preparing to conduct an inspection.