Open Recommendations

We recommend that OIT update the applicable system security plan(s) to accurately reflect the mobile device management system audit events and logs that should be forwarded to the SEC’s security information and event management tool, and ensure that those logs support after-the-fact investigations of incidents.

We recommend that OIT develop procedures to periodically verify that the mobile device management system audit events and logs identified in the applicable system security plan(s) are successfully retained in the SEC’s security information and event management tool.

We recommend that OIT update policies and procedures to require OIT management’s approval of commands during troubleshooting activities that result in a factory reset of Capstone officials’ devices, and verification that appropriate device logs and forensic data have been collected and retained beforehand.

Remove the six identified deceased participants from benefit pay status and take other actions, as appropriate.

Coordinate with the OIG to periodically run DNP as needed.

(U) Rec. 1: Report is Classified.

(U) Rec. 1: The DoD OIG recommended that the Director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency revise Defense Security Cooperation Agency Manual 5105.38-M to address DoD storage of benefiting partner-owned items. The revisions should address situations where benefiting partners cannot immediately receive items and should specify how the DoD should segregate and store these items to prevent incorrect accounting on DoD property records.

We recommend that USAID's Office of Acquisition and Assistance Cost, Audit and Support Division/Contract Audit Management Branch verify that Management Systems International, Inc., corrects the one
material weakness in internal control detailed on pages 12 to 15 of the audit report.

Review Puerto Rico Department of the Family’s training and procedures for completing the Form SSA-4513 to ensure accurate reporting.

Work with the Department of Agriculture to ensure Puerto Rico Department of the Family implements internal controls over its financial reporting responsibilities for Federal funds.

FHFA's DHMG Deputy Director should review and update, as necessary, the design of all scoring templates to reflect current practices and provide clarity regarding what fields require completion.

FHFA's DHMG Deputy Director should develop and implement written review and reconciliation procedures to ensure that all scoring template evaluations are complete, accurate, and correspond to the final qualitative impact scores used to rate the Enterprises’ annual Duty to Serve performance.

FHFA's DHMG Deputy Director should revise internal written guidance for the oversight of the Enterprises’ compliance with Duty to Serve requirements to incorporate up-to-date practices that include the following:
a. Review and approval procedures for assigning and documenting scores and ratings for evaluation of the Enterprises’ Plans and performance;
b. Review and approval procedures to ensure that DHMG accurately calculates annual evaluation scores and ratings;
c. Procedures for the practice and frequency of conducting routine meetings with the Enterprises and documenting and communicating results to relevant FHFA stakeholders; and
d. Procedures for the documentation and submission of quarterly monitoring reviews…

Develop and implement an official policy and procedures for the management and implementation of the strategic partnership process.

Develop and implement a policy and procedures for storing, safeguarding, and reporting
accurate partnership information such as memorandums of understanding and progress
reports to comply with the partnership process.

Develop guidance for evaluating potential partnerships based on strategic need and opportunity.

Develop and implement a contingency planning process in the event that not all pledged funding from a partner is received.

Develop and provide training on the policy and procedures for the strategic partnership process.

Update the USADF Manual System to clarify conflicting guidance for grant administration and grantee reporting and project development requirements for grants awarded under partnerships.

Develop a policy and procedures for the use of the Grants Information System for Evaluation and Learning that is aligned with USADF's Manual System, Federal requirements, and USADF's strategic partnership management.

Develop and provide recurring training to officials on the revised USADF Manual System and Grants Information System for Evaluation and Learning policy.

Develop a process for periodically reviewing and evaluating policies to ensure their relevance and effectiveness to current practices in USADF's grant administration.

We recommend that the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of USPTO direct the Commissioner for Patents to update agency-wide policies and procedures explicitly requiring SPEs to (1) take necessary actions to correct OPQA-identified quality errors and (2) coach patent examiners on the errors.

We recommend that the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of USPTO direct the Commissioner for Patents to develop requirements for TCs to monitor (1) actions taken by SPEs to correct OPQA-identified quality errors and (2) coaching that SPEs provide to patent examiners on the errors.

We recommend that the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of USPTO direct the Commissioner for Patents to develop policy that requires supervisory reviews of compliant OPQA quality findings and that the results of these reviews be documented and evaluated to ensure compliant findings are accurate.