Open Recommendations

The Veterans Integrated Service Network 8 director confirms that VA has initiated the process to seek recoupment of the critical skill incentive paid by VA to Ms. Skala that was attributable to a service period that she did not complete due to her retirement.

The assistant secretary for Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness directs a review to determine whether any VHA employee ranked GS‑15 or above awarded a critical skill incentive has left VA before completing their required service obligation, and, if so, whether VA has established a debt and initiated recoupment in the amount of the CSI attributable to the uncompleted period, and takes further corrective actions as warranted.

Improve vulnerability management processes to ensure all vulnerabilities are identified and plans of action and milestones are created for vulnerabilities that cannot be mitigated by VA deadlines.

Implement a more effective baseline configuration process to ensure network devices are running authorized software that is configured to approved baselines and free of vulnerabilities.

Confirm with the New Hampshire Disability Determination Service that the actions taken to resolve the 2023 findings will address the 2024 findings.

USDA OIG has determined that this recommendation contains sensitive information and will not be publicly released due to privacy concerns.

USDA OIG has determined that this recommendation contains sensitive information and will not be publicly released due to privacy concerns.

USDA OIG has determined that this recommendation contains sensitive information and will not be publicly released due to privacy concerns.

USDA OIG has determined that this recommendation contains sensitive information and will not be publicly released due to privacy concerns.

USDA OIG has determined that this recommendation contains sensitive information and will not be publicly released due to privacy concerns.

USDA OIG has determined that this recommendation contains sensitive information and will not be publicly released due to privacy concerns.

USDA OIG has determined that this recommendation contains sensitive information and will not be publicly released due to privacy concerns.

USDA OIG has determined that this recommendation contains sensitive information and will not be publicly released due to privacy concerns.

USDA OIG has determined that this recommendation contains sensitive information and will not be publicly released due to privacy concerns.

Verify that Yozmot Atid corrects the two instances of material internal control deficiencies detailed on pages 22-24 of the audit report

Verify that Yozmot Atid corrects the four instances of material noncompliance detailed on pages 30-37 of the audit report

We recommend that FMC:
1. Documents the rationale for using the allocation base and its review of the allocation basis at least every two years and considers:
a. Current operational practices, data, and cost structures;
b. The appropriateness of the user fees base(s);
c. Actual user fees collected versus the actual costs to FMC of collecting the user fees based on available data.

HRK recommends the following:
1. Reviewing and documenting the methodology for calculating indirect costs to ensure all costs are considered;
2. Creating an annual process to analyze the actual user fees collected versus the actual costs to FMC of the user fees services based on available data.

HRK recommends that FMC implement a system to track annual occurrences of each user fee service, recording the hours worked and employees involved in processing them from start to finish. This would provide reliable data for accurate estimations.

We recommend that FMC:
1. Documents its review and rationale for the inclusion and exclusion of offices during its biennial review and considers:
a. Current operational practices, data, and cost structures;
b. The appropriateness of exclusion of offices in the indirect cost calculation.

We recommend that FMC:
1. Use available technology to more effectively capture information to minimize the chance of human error; and
2. Use available technology to link data used in the calculation to reconciled data sources.

We recommend that FMC:
1. Create an overarching policy, following Section 8 of OMB A-25, User Charges, as the overall policy document, to include the following:
a. The policy should address who holds the overall authority over the policy;
b. The policy should establish a working group of all offices involved in the biennial review of the procedures used, including inputs for direct and indirect costs, including collection methods; and
c. The policy should outline the overall approval hierarchy of calculated user fees.

2. Refine the User Fees procedures document to detail the overall processes, procedures, rationale, data inputs/outputs, and…

1. We recommend that the Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Administration instruct the Director, Performance, Research and National Technical Assistance Division (or designee, including the Interim RLF Coordinator) to review and make a determination regarding the allowability of the $4,020,050 in questioned costs with the respective RLF operators’ loans that were made to ineligible borrowers and not used for their intended purposes.

2. We recommend that the Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Administration instruct the Director, Performance, Research and National Technical Assistance Division (or designee, including the Interim RLF Coordinator), to take appropriate actions for all noncompliances identified, such as suspending or terminating the RLF operator’s grant if not in compliance with federal regulations and their RLF plans.

3. We recommend that the Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Administration instruct the Director, Performance, Research and National Technical Assistance Division (or designee, including the Interim RLF Coordinator), to ensure EDA provides oversight of the RLF operators to ensure loans are made to eligible borrowers and used for their intended purposes.