Open Recommendations

The IPA recommended that Fiscal Service provide logging and monitoring of security related events to include the retention of evidence of reviews performed.

The IPA recommended that Fiscal Service develop a baseline of essential security settings and specify that baseline as the standard to be observed.

The IPA recommended that Fiscal Service implement corrective actions to address all vulnerabilities associated with the baseline enforcement to include removing the three default user accounts on UNIX servers.

The IPA recommended that Fiscal Service perform a review of the current system environment against the CMDB.

The IPA recommended that Fiscal Service perform a risk assessment over the subject matter and determine the appropriate personnel to be responsible for monitoring and updating the CMDB.

The IPA recommended that Fiscal Service update policy and procedures related to the above recommendations and disseminate the documentation to enforce such policy and procedures.

We recommend that BLM develop policies and procedures for identifying and tracking helium-producing wells to ensure helium agreements are established and enforce agreement clauses for annual reporting.

We recommend that BLM resolve the $48,000 in uncollected penalties.

We recommend that BLM establish a records management system for tracking helium agreements.

We recommend that BLM develop policies and procedures for monitoring helium agreements to ensure they are current.

We recommend that BLM conduct a thorough review of royalty payment data to identify potential delinquencies and resolve any delinquencies identified, including resolving the $851,000 of potential delinquencies previously reported.

We recommend that BLM develop policies and procedures for identifying, tracking, and following up on delinquent companies.

We recommend that BLM establish a policy for conducting reviews of helium companies to conform to ONRR practices, including establishing a risk-based strategy and independent verification of company-provided production data to assist the Federal Leased Lands team in performing efficient oversight of helium companies, which would put the team's $96,385 in estimated yearly salary expenses associated with inefficient oversight practices to better use in the future.

The Executive Director ensures staff receive education about badge holders’ responsibilities in preventing unauthorized access to VA facilities and computer systems and safeguarding electronic databases including electronic health care records.

The Executive Director ensures staff monitor patient care areas for expired, damaged, and contaminated medications and remove them as needed.

The Executive Director ensures staff store medications in pharmaceutical grade refrigerators.

The Executive Director ensures primary care staffing is sufficient for patients to receive appropriate health care.

The Executive Director reviews staffing levels for the Housing and Urban Development–Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program and takes action as needed.

The Executive Director ensures staff receive education about badge holders responsibilities in preventing unauthorized access to VA facilities and computer systems and safeguarding electronic databases including electronic health care records.

The Executive Director ensures staff monitor patient care areas for expired, damaged, and contaminated medications and remove them as needed.

The Executive Director ensures staff store medications in pharmaceutical grade refrigerators.

The Executive Director ensures primary care staffing is sufficient for patients to receive appropriate health care.

The Executive Director reviews staffing levels for the Housing and Urban Development"Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program and takes action as needed.

The Medical Center Director ensures staff properly store clean medical equipment.

We recommend that the FAS Commissioner resume iterations of the Competitive Pricing Initiative at the MAS Program level to identify, address, and reduce price variability.

We recommend that the FAS Commissioner strengthen policies and procedures to: address data inaccuracies within FAS pricing tools; and ensure bilateral contract modifications are submitted and approved prior to catalog changes.

We recommend that the FAS Commissioner provide additional guidance to contracting officers regarding adequate sampling techniques for large catalogs to ensure information accuracy.

We recommend that the FAS Commissioner inform federal customer agencies that they should perform separate and independent price determinations because significant price variability puts federal customer agencies at risk of overpaying for products on MAS contracts.

We recommend that the FAS Commissioner increase oversight and implement additional controls related to temporary price reductions.

Update and fully implement the Collections Care Initiative Interim Guidelines to:
(a) require that awards to NCP be approved and monitored at a higher organizational level,
(b) require NCP to maintain a current list of all CCI projects and the funds awarded to them to use for oversight purposes, and
(c) add specific monitoring procedures for CCI awards.

Develop and implement a report tracking system and procedures requiring NCP staff to remind units of approaching due dates and timely follow-up with units that miss their reporting deadlines.

Develop and implement policies and procedures requiring NCP staff to review PSCI reports upon receipt to:
(a) ensure that they comply with applicable reporting requirements, and
(b) document the results of NCP’s review of the reports.

Add language to award letters reminding recipients that they may not deviate from the terms of the award without prior written approval from NCP.

Require the PSCI program to cease paying STRI’s Cryo Collection Manager’s salary and benefits with CCI funds.

Establish and implement a control to track the amount of S&E and FS Ops funds expended for IIJA Section 40804(b)(3).

Implement best practices for interagency coordination including but not limited to entering into a written agreement with DOI to document the roles, responsibilities, and expected outcomes.

Establish and implement controls to ensure that remaining award decisions are fully supported by data to ensure facilities are in close proximity to high or very high risk areas.

Evaluate whether the 132 awards approved from FY 2022 to FY 2024, which total $94.2 million in financial assistance, substantially decrease the cost of conducting ecological health restoration projects. Document conclusion reached and proceed to recover funds, as applicable.

Develop and implement a quantifiable and properly supported process for determining how the funding awarded to facilities would substantially or does substantially decrease the cost of conducting ecological restoration projects.

Update procedures for future restoration project funding to account for funding provided to facilities under Section 40804(b)(3).

We recommend the Senior Vice President, Generation, the Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer, and the Senior Vice President, Generation Projects and Fleet Services, evaluate physical controls to safeguard tools and determine the cost benefit of implementing the controls.

We recommend the Senior Vice President, Generation, the Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer, and the Senior Vice President, Generation Projects and Fleet Services, develop and implement policies and procedures for tool management. These should include a clear definition of what constitutes a tool, required controls for safeguarding tools, and guidance on who can purchase tools and shipping restrictions.

Take actions to address contractor failures at the Westchester Processing and Distribution Center.

Develop and implement a process to verify all mail containers are scanned for dispatch at the Westchester Processing and Distribution Center.

Verify the appropriate number of placards are printed, and extra placards are canceled at the Westchester Processing and Distribution Center.

Take action to retrieve all lost scanners at the Westchester Processing and Distribution Center.

Verify that scanner accountability procedures are followed for Postal Vehicle Service and Surface Visibility scanners at the Westchester Processing and Distribution Center.

Verify that all drivers use wheel chocks and padlocks at the Westchester Processing and Distribution Center.

Repair the damaged concrete columns at the Westchester Processing and Distribution Center.

Determine the allowability of the questioned transactions and recover $2,592,686, if applicable.