Open Recommendations

Include a summary in the Real Property Capital Plan for the methodology used by the agency to calculate the life cycle costs.

Establish standard operating procedures to ensure the real property capital plan is completed annually by August 15, covers the appropriate five year period, and meets all of the Office of Management and Budget’s criteria.

Establish processes to evaluate performance against expected standards of conduct for compliance with agency policies in the area of time and attendance keeping.

Train employees on the standards of conduct related to time and attendance keeping.

Monitor compliance with agency policies and address deviations in a timely manner via random audits or other appropriate methods.

Hold entity personnel accountable for performing assigned internal control responsibilities regarding time and attendance keeping.

Relinquish 28,122 useable square feet of underutilized headquarters office space, so that the corresponding funds, $2.782 million, can be put to better use; or provide documentation to the Office of Inspector General demonstrating usage in line with General Services Administration benchmarks.

Determine whether the expenditure of $4.473 million in questioned costs spent on 28,122 useable square feet of office space are reasonable and necessary in the circumstances.

Determine whether the expenditure of $4.473 million in questioned costs spent on 28,122 useable square feet of office space are supported and allowable.

Determine the appropriate utilization rate for the agency’s leased office spaces.

Determine the appropriate minimum average annual occupancy rates for the agency’s leased office spaces.

Take appropriate action to right-size the agency’s leased office space in order to meet the agency’s targeted utilization and occupancy rates and promote the efficient utilization of space at an economical cost to the government.

Relinquish 3,000 useable square feet of fitness center space, corresponding to underutilized fitness space, so that the corresponding funds, $306,000, can be put to better use

Determine whether the expenditure of $486,000 of questioned costs spent on 3,000 useable square feet on the fitness center are reasonable and necessary in the circumstances.

Determine whether the expenditure of $486,000 of questioned costs spent on 3,000 useable square feet on the fitness center are supported and allowable.

Conduct a survey of the fitness needs of CPSC employees.

Use the results of the survey to develop an appropriate fitness program that meets the agency’s mission requirements at an economical cost to the government.

Evaluate alternative usage, including relinquishment, of the fitness center space.

Evaluate the appropriate funding source(s) to promote employee commitment to regular participation in a physical fitness program.

Based on results of the evaluations performed in conjunction with recommendation numbers 40 and 41, take action to adopt strategies that promote the efficient delivery of a fitness program for agency employees at an economical cost to the government.

Evaluate the agency’s conference rooms for each space’s respective best and highest use.

Based on the results of the evaluation performed for recommendation number 43, take action to utilize each space in their respective best and highest use in a cost-effective manner.

Collect data showing where National Product Testing and Evaluation Center staff spend their time, lab versus office space, and analyze how space is actually used to determine if the current space allocation best meets CPSC needs.

Based on reported results in recommendation number 45, adopt strategies to promote the efficient utilization of space at National Product Testing and Evaluation Center at an economical cost to the government.

Embassy Harare should update standard operating procedures to assist staff in managing federal assistance awards in accordance with Department guidelines.