Audit of the Department of State Vetting Process for Syrian Non-Lethal Assistance

OIG recommends that the Under Secretary for Management consolidate and codify all current Syria vetting policies issued by the Department and bureaus into one detailed guidance explaining specifically how the vetting process should be carried out for Syrian awards. This consolidated guidance should be distributed to all bureaus once completed.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs distribute the consolidated vetting guidance from Recommendation 1 to implementing partners to make them aware of Department vetting requirements.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs develop and implement internal controls to verify that its implementing partners are submitting information on required individuals for vetting in accordance with the consolidated vetting guidance from Recommendation 1.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs include in future award agreements the vetting requirements for Syria programs.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor distribute the consolidated vetting guidance from Recommendation 1 to implementing partners to make them aware of Department vetting requirements.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor develop and implement internal controls to verify that its implementing partners are submitting information on required individuals for vetting in accordance with the consolidated vetting guidance from Recommendation 1.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor include in future award agreements the vetting requirements for Syria programs.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of the Procurement Executive, establish a policy to award new Syrian non-lethal assistance through cooperative agreements so that the bureaus involved will be better positioned to monitor the vetting of implementing partners’ staff and assistance recipients.

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of the Procurement Executive, notify the bureaus to include needed Risk Analysis and Management vetting time in grant performance periods when awarding grants for non-lethal Syrian assistance and incorporate this instruction within its consolidated vetting guidance in Recommendation 1.