Open Recommendations

Establish procedures to complete annual safety inspections, remediate deficiencies, and document the results for the blue collection boxes and green relay boxes.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, in coordination with the Office of Management Strategy and Solutions and the Bureau of Diplomatic Technology, (a) conduct a review to determine whether its Office of the Geographer and Global Issues is best positioned to implement compliance with the Geospatial Data Act of 2018, and (b) develop and implement a plan to address the results of the review.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, in coordination with the Office of the Legal Advisor, the Office of Management Strategy and Solutions, and the Bureau of Diplomatic Technology, (a) determine what qualifies as geospatial data for purposes of compliance with the Geospatial Data Act of 2018, Section 759(a), codified at 43 United States Code 2808(a), and (b) formally communicate the determination to affected geospatial data stakeholders.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, in coordination with the Office of Management Strategy and Solutions and the Bureau of Diplomatic Technology, develop and implement a strategy to maintain an inventory of all Department of State geospatial data as prescribed by the Geospatial Data Act of 2018, Section 759(b)(2)(B), codified at 43 United States Code 2808(b)(2)(B), after a determination is made regarding what qualifies as geospatial data, as mentioned in Recommendation 2.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, in coordination with the Office of Management Strategy and Solutions and the Bureau of Diplomatic Technology, develop written policies, procedures, and guidance that can be used to implement requirements 2 through 12 of the Geospatial Data Act of 2018, Section 759(a), codified at 43 United States Code 2808(a).

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, in coordination with the Office of Management Strategy and Solutions and the Bureau of Diplomatic Technology, formally define and communicate areas of authority, roles, and responsibilities in the Geospatial Data Strategy for personnel responsible for carrying out compliance with the Geospatial Data Act of 2018.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, in coordination with the Bureau of Budget and Planning, the Office of Management Strategy and Solutions, and the Bureau of Diplomatic Technology, develop and implement a comprehensive, long-term funding plan and include geospatial data when preparing its budget submission as prescribed by the Geospatial Data Act of 2018, Section 759(b)(2)(A), codified at 43 United States Code 2808(b)(2)(A).

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, in coordination with the Bureau of Administration, the Office of Management Strategy and Solutions, and the Bureau of Diplomatic Technology, (a) review current records schedules to determine whether data information products and other records created in geospatial data and activities are included on agency record schedules that have been approved by the National Archives and Records Administration as prescribed by the Geospatial Data Act of 2018, Section 759(a)(4), codified at 43 United States Code 2808(a)(4), and (b) update the records schedules as necessary to include geospatial data and activities.

Review and align the processes for submitting, tracking and maintaining Quality Step Increase (QSI) awards with the established policy provisions to address potential noncompliance in QSI submission and approval processes

Review and assess the human capital policy management roles and responsibilities to identify opportunities for improvement in human capital policy management and oversight. Enhance or develop and implement specific measures to foster consistent communication and collaboration between the Human Capital Management Division and the Policy and Special Programs Division.

Practice timely reporting of the exit interview survey program to ensure its results are analyzed consistently and effectively. This includes defining timelines for reporting results to upper management and ensuring prompt action on identified issues.

Implement a centralized repository where all telework application packages, both approved and denied, across the agency are maintained. This includes establishing a regular review process of the repository to sustain its integrity and ensure consistency, fairness and policy compliance.

Per AOC Order 4-1, Issuing Architect of the Capitol (AOC) Policy, effectively execute the process to verify the assignment of policies to the appropriate Office of Primary Responsibility within the AOC Policy Library, particularly following any transfers or changes in ownership between offices/jurisdictions.Additionally, this recommendation should include a focus on ensuring that, when applicable, policy memorandums reference the original order number and section of the overarching policies to maintain alignment with their provisions.

Review and assess the policy governance framework over the jurisdictions to identify opportunities to improve policy governance, standards and communication. Enhance or develop and implement a comprehensive policy governance framework across all jurisdictions. Furthermore, this recommendation should include a focus on designating a Point of Contact at the Human Capital Management Division to handle policy-related inquiries, thereby discouraging reliance on non-designated resources and promoting adherence to policies.

Establish a review process that effectively addresses any inconsistencies or manual input errors encountered during preparation and submission of Standard Form 52 forms.

Establish data management protocols, incorporating routine review and reconciliation of employee data, alongside procedures for data entry and updates.

Revise the “Feedback to Non-Selected Internal Candidates Interviewed Form” to incorporate explicit criteria and pertinent evidence validating that feedback was extended to interviewed, non-selected internal candidates for vacant positions.

Establish clear procedures and defined timelines for administering and conducting exit interviews with separating employees.

Review and assess AOC Order 4-1, Issuing Architect of the Capitol Policy, protocols for update and retirement of outdated policies and identify opportunities to improve policy protocol activities. Enhance or develop and implement protocol measures to affect timely updates to older policies and the prompt retirement or revision of outdated or unclear policies, ensuring continuous alignment with regulatory requirements and organizational objectives.

Ensure all interrelated policies are tracked to facilitate the identification of those potentially impacted by the update of a single policy.

The VA Black Hills Health Care System Director in conjunction with facility leaders and surgical service leaders, ensures a focused clinical care review is completed of the care provided by the subject provider according to Veterans Health Administration policy, and takes action as warranted.

The VA Black Hills Health Care System Director, in conjunction with the National Center for Patient Safety, evaluates the patient safety event reporting processes, identifies deficiencies, and takes action as warranted to ensure compliance with entering adverse events or close calls into the Joint Patient Safety Reporting system.

Implement mandated training related to attendance control and employee availability to front-line supervisors nationwide.

Reiterate sick leave policy to all employees and coordinate with the Vice President, Technology Applications, to automate controls to remind management to obtain supporting medical documentation and file the documentation, as required.

Develop and implement a method to monitor FBI employees' compliance with mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse for an appropriate amount of time following the implementation of its updated policy and take appropriate remedial action in instances of non-compliance.

Implement sufficient controls to ensure all incidents involving an imminent or ongoing threat of sexual and/or physical abuse or exploitation of a child or adult are handled within 24 hours as required.

Implement sufficient controls to ensure FBI employees responsible for notifying victims and providing victim services become aware of all eligible federal crime victims, notify and offer services to these victims, and document victim notifications and services offered to victims in the investigative case file.

Implement sufficient controls that ensure Assessments in Guardian that are converted to a predicated investigation include the opening documentation required by the Domestic Investigations and Operations Guide (DIOG).

Enhance its monitoring of leads to ensure that leads are covered timely and appropriately.

Develop an enterprise-wide strategy that addresses the rising number of crimes against children and human trafficking (CAC/HT) cases and ensures CAC/HT agents have appropriate support and resources to manage their assigned caseloads.

Implement a comprehensive training program specific to the CAC/HT program for both current and future agents, task force officers, and other FBI employees assigned to this program.

We recommend the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health & Human Services follow up with the OTP providers to correct the three services that were not supported by the medical records.

We recommend the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health & Human Services review its procedures designed to prevent OTP noncompliance with Federal and State requirements and make changes to improve documentation of counseling and more timely review of OTP treatment plans.

Chief Information Officer develop and implement procedures to assess whether position risk designations are reviewed for all personnel.

Chief Information Officer develop and implement procedures to assess whether reinvestigations are performed timely for individuals who possess critical-sensitive/high-risk roles that require system access.

Chief Information Officer develop and implement policies and procedures to periodically assess its cybersecurity workforce's knowledge, skills, and abilities to confirm that security training and development activities align with agency needs.

Chief Information Officer develop and implement policies and procedures for agency personnel to monitor performance metrics for information technology services provided by third parties.

Chief Information Officer update the change management charter to designate in writing the responsibilities for monitoring performance metrics, conducting lessons-learned activities, and documenting routine updates and minor changes.

Chief Information Officer update the system security plan to include the frequency for reviewing and updating the contingency plan.

Chief Information Officer develop and implement policies and procedures to obtain feedback on the agency's specialized security training, update the training program, and request that third-party providers update their training content, as appropriate, to keep current with security practices.

To address these shortcomings, we recommend that USADF:
Update its training within 30 days of USAID OIG publishing this advisory to incorporate information on USAID OIG oversight authorities and procedures for disclosing allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, or mismanagement, and develop and implement a plan to provide the updated training to all USADF staff.

To address these shortcomings, we recommend that USADF:
Develop and implement a plan within 90 days of USAID OIG publishing this advisory to schedule fraud awareness briefings with USAID OIG's Office of Investigations for all USADF staff.

This recommendation contains sensitive information that should not be made public. Therefore, we are not including the wording for this recommendation.

This recommendation contains sensitive information that should not be made public. Therefore, we are not including the wording for this recommendation.

This recommendation contains sensitive information that should not be made public. Therefore, we are not including the wording for this recommendation.

This recommendation contains sensitive information that should not be made public. Therefore, we are not including the wording for this recommendation.

Establish a mechanism to monitor progress of the Digital GI Bill platform implementation under the renegotiated contract to avoid additional costs and delays.

Develop strategies to address critical path failures to provide a clear timeline of further implementation activities.

The VA North Florida/South Georgia Health System Director ensures that providers document their rationales for initiating involuntary examinations under the Baker Act within a patients electronic health record and monitors compliance.

The VA North Florida/South Georgia Health System Director confirms that mental health staff document offering evidence-based therapies during treatment planning with patients diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder, as required by Veterans Health Administration policy, and monitors compliance.