Open Recommendations

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, in coordination with the Foreign Service Institute, modify contract administration training that is offered by the Department of State to include guidance on the contract termination process.

Following implementation of Recommendations 7 and 8, OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration develop a communication strategy and disseminate to procurement personnel the updates to policy, procedures, and training related to contract terminations to ensure awareness of contract termination process requirements, including documentation requirements.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, within 45 days of issuance of this report, develop and implement a plan of action to address the contracts related to Afghanistan that are in the termination process to ensure prompt completion of the process and move contracts to closeout.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, within 45 days of issuance of this report, develop and implement a plan of action to address the expired contracts related to Afghanistan that remain open.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration develop and implement a process to ensure that Contracting Officers comply with Federal Acquisition Regulation termination process requirements.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration review its refugee application quality control processes to identify gaps and develop and implement improvements to provide reasonable assurance that program objectives will be achieved.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration review its standard operating procedures to consolidate and clarify guidance related to prescreening refugee applicants and ensuring data consistency between START and the physical case file.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration collaborate with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to evaluate steps in the standard operating procedures related to prescreening refugees and update those procedures as appropriate.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (a) determine whether the $426,527 in questioned costs related to International Rescue Committee’s cooperative agreement (SPRMCO22CA0007) for an office renovation contract and canvas bags, as detailed in Appendix B, are allowable and (b) recover any costs determined to be unallowable.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (a) determine whether the $127,899 in unsupported costs related to International Rescue Committee’s cooperative agreement (SPRMCO22CA0007) for the purchase of equipment, the renting of meeting rooms, and professional services contracts, as detailed in Appendix B, are supported and (b) recover any costs determined to be unsupported.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (a) determine whether the $42,884 in unsupported costs related to Church World Service’s cooperative agreement (SPRMCO22CA0005) for a security services contract, mechanical engineer consulting services contract, and lodging costs, as detailed in Appendix B, are supported and (b) recover all costs determined to be unsupported.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (a) determine whether all other payments made in the first, second, and fourth quarters of FY 2022 related to Church World Service’s cooperative agreement (SPRMCO22CA0005) for a security services contract and a mechanical engineer consulting services contract are supported and (b) recover all additional costs determined to be unsupported.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (a) determine whether the $39,094 in unsupported costs related to International Catholic Migration Commission’s cooperative agreement (SPRMCO22CA0002) for consulting services contracts, as detailed in Appendix B, are supported and (b) recover any costs determined to be unsupported.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (a) determine whether the $122,596 in questioned costs related to International Catholic Migration Commission’s cooperative agreement (SPRMCO22CA0002) for a security contract, as detailed in Appendix B, are reasonable and (b) recover all costs determined to be unreasonable.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (a) review all contracts executed by International Catholic Migration Commission under award SPRMCO22CA0002 not already covered under this audit report to determine whether the costs associated with those contracts comply with Code of Federal Regulations requirements and (b) recover all costs determined to be unallowable.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration develop and implement a communications strategy to inform current and future award recipients about the cost principles for award recipients outlined in the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.), 2 C.F.R. Part 200 and 2 C.F.R. Part 600.

FDA should give greater weight to retailers' past noncompliance when taking enforcement actions against retailers with histories of violations.

FDA should determine whether variation in inspection activity on the basis of neighborhoods' socioeconomic status is appropriate and the extent to which it is meeting FDA's objective for protecting vulnerable populations.

Develop additional strategies and solutions to manage delays in detainee transfers to partners and implement these improvements throughout the El Paso sector when the holding facilities in the sector are over capacity.

The Veterans Crisis Line Director conducts a full review of the Veterans Crisis Line staff’s management of the patient and third-party contacts, consults with Human Resources and General Counsel Offices, and takes actions as warranted.

The Veterans Crisis Line Director conducts a review of the interactions between the Director, Quality and Training, and staff in preparation and during the Office of Inspector General healthcare inspection, educates staff on the importance of fully cooperating, responding in an open and transparent manner, and avoiding any appearance of coordination between employees, and take actions as warranted.

Establish performance targets aligned with the key objectives of a new loyalty program and establish parameters to actively monitor progress for effective program management.

Develop a comprehensive communication strategy for a new loyalty program that promotes awareness of functionality for prospective, and once enrolled, ongoing customers.

Conduct an evaluation of customer spending requirements and discounts, related to any future loyalty program, to ensure the program's design promotes customer engagement and shipping growth

Involve all participating federal components in a review of its KPIs, revise those KPIs that need clarification, include disincentives where appropriate, retain supporting documentation on the development of the performance measures, and work with Leidos to modify the contract.