Open Recommendations

We recommend that BIE create and implement a plan to analyze and verify the accuracy of works orders the contractor has closed in the facility management system.

We recommend that BIE amend the statement of work for this task order to establish assessment standards and clarify the evidence required to properly close work orders.

We recommend that BIE resolve the questioned costs of $535,420.

Implement travel procedures and processes for performing thorough routine reviews of travel authorizations, vouchers, and payments to ensure that all transactions are processed in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulation and that all appropriate supporting documentation is included with the submission of the travel voucher (for example, a signed voucher checklist). Include a provision for annual review.

Provide annual training to travelers on current policies and procedures as well as a copy of the EAC Travel Handbook.

The U.S. Mission to the United Nations should define and document the mission's structure, roles, and responsibilities in Department standards and guidance.

The U.S. Mission to the United Nations should implement standard operating procedures and outline roles and responsibilities for employees in the Executive Office and at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations office in Washington.

The U.S. Mission to the United Nations should manage the Political Affairs Section in accordance with the Department's leadership and management principles.

The U.S. Mission to the United Nations, in coordination with the Bureau of International Organization Affairs, should develop procedures to report allegations of fraud, waste and abuse to the Department's Office of Inspector General.

The U.S. Mission to the United Nations should establish current, formal agreements defining areas of responsibility with Department partners, including, at a minimum, the Office of Foreign Missions and the Bureau of Consular Affairs.

The U.S. Mission to the United Nations should develop a mission-wide coordination mechanism to monitor United Nations General Assembly plenary issues.

The U.S. Mission to the United Nations should implement procedures to address and strengthen mission-wide collaboration on monitoring and countering People's Republic of China activities at the United Nations.

The U.S. Mission to the United Nations, in coordination with the Bureau of Administration, should perform a strategic review of the findings in the building engineering reports and assess whether pursuing various delegated authorities for facility management from the General Services Administration would be cost-effective and prevent disruptions to mission operations.

The U.S. Mission to the United Nations, in coordination with the Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services, should bring the mission's housing program management into compliance with Department standards.

The U.S. Mission to the United Nations should update its housing program regulations in the Foreign Affairs Manual.

The U.S. Mission to the United Nations should bring its nonexpendable property inventory records and procedures into compliance with Department standards.

The U.S. Mission to the United Nations should implement a process to require supervisors to submit performance evaluations for direct reports in accordance with established deadlines.

The U.S. Mission to the United Nations, in coordination with the Bureau of International Organization Affairs, should institute a process to certify position descriptions every 5 years, in accordance with Department standards.

The U.S. Mission to the United Nations should clear overdue travel vouchers, institute a process to ensure travelers submit their final travel vouchers in accordance with Department standards, and put up to $47,397 to better use.

The U.S. Mission to the United Nations should require its primary and alternate information system security officers to complete training in accordance with Department standards.

The U.S. Mission to the United Nations should test its information technology contingency plans in accordance with Department standards.

The U.S. Mission to the United Nations should implement an annual process for verifying system access controls for mission staff.

The U.S. Mission to the United Nations should bring its records management program into compliance with Department standards.

We recommend the Grantee revise policies and procedures to reflect the updated process for progress report tracking to ensure the timely submission of progress reports.

We recommend that USAID's Office of Acquisition and Assistance Cost, Audit and Support Division/Contract Audit Management Branch verify that Norwegian Refugee Council corrects the instance of material noncompliance detailed on pages III-2 to III-3 of the audit report.