Audit of the Financial Results of the Telephone, Wireless, and Data Cost Center

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, in coordination with the Bureau of Information Resource Management, develop and implement a formal policy identifying the roles and responsibilities each bureau has in the fee-setting process. This policy should clearly identify which bureau has the authority for authorizing the fee amounts for the Telephone, Wireless, and Data Cost Center.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, in coordination with the Bureau of Information Resource Management, reassess the fee amount for each of the services provided by the Telephone, Wireless, and Data Cost Center. The methodology used when reassessing the fees should consider all relevant factors, including all expenses that should be supported by Cost Center revenue and retained funds in excess of scheduled capital needs (that is, technical refreshes). The fee-setting process should also ensure that fees are established for all types of services provided to customers, including data port access without operational support. The results of the reassessment should be made available to customers. The Cost Center should maintain supporting documentation of the reassessment that supports the fees.

OIG recommends that once the Telephone, Wireless, and Data Cost Center services fees are reassessed (Recommendation 2), the Bureau of Administration, in coordination with the Bureau of Information Resource Management, implement the new fee structure, to include formally notifying customers of the new fees.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, in coordination with the Bureau of Information Resource Management, develop a policy that details how often the Telephone, Wireless, and Data Cost Center’s fees will be formally reassessed and how documentation of the assessment will be maintained.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Information Resource Management perform a complete inventory of data ports in use by the Bureau of Consular Affairs, the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, and the Office of the Secretary.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Information Resource Management develop and implement a quality control strategy to identify and correct erroneous asset information in its NetPlus Telecommunications System.