Report Contents
Report Terms
Report Recommendations
Embassy Sofia should establish a periodic process to assess its progress in meeting the goals of the Integrated Country Strategy, including appropriate adjustments to mission reporting, travel, and representation plans, and report the assessment to the Ambassador and the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs.
Embassy Sofia should develop a more structured mentoring and professional development program for first- and second-tour staff, which includes periodic engagement with the Ambassador and the deputy chief of mission.
Embassy Sofia should implement a standard operating procedure that formally delineates between sections responsibilities for handling extradition cases.
Embassy Sofia should engage with the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ Visa Office to clarify procedures well in advance of the FY 2014 Summer Work Travel peak season.
Embassy Sofia should review existing consular portfolios and consolidate related functions.
Embassy Sofia should require teams that include a first- and second-tour officer and locally employed staff to manage the consular portfolios.
Embassy Sofia, in coordination with the Bureau of Consular Affairs, Office of Fraud Prevention Programs, should review Sofia’s practice of screening all visa application supporting documents, and identify a process that will protect the integrity of the adjudications, while maximizing efficiency and effectiveness of the fraud prevention investigator.
Embassy Sofia should define reporting responsibilities within the American citizens services unit so that reporting and case management flow directly through the American citizens services first- and second-tour officer.
Embassy Sofia should establish a mission speakers program for American employees, including first- and second-tour employees, to conduct outreach to Bulgarian audiences.
Embassy Sofia should implement a policy for prioritizing requests for the public affairs section’s photographic and audiovisual services for official mission events and devise a computer-based system for submitting and tracking requests.
Embassy Sofia should implement a policy of direct payment of salaries to official residence expense employees by the Ambassador and deputy chief of mission.
Embassy Sofia should review and update the following position descriptions and, if warranted, reclassify and regrade them: information assistant (C-73024); distribution clerk (Admin) (C-76021); warehouseman (C-52633); visa assistant (C-31015); and visa clerk (C-31003).
Embassy Sofia should formally request the Department to make a determination on the personal services agreement issue and follow up until the Bureau of Human Resources and the Office of the Legal Adviser respond.
Embassy Sofia should implement a schedule to update and reissue annual guidance on the locally employed staff’s legal employment status.
The Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, in coordination with Embassy Sofia and Embassy Vilnius, should revise the memorandum of understanding on human resources regional support, including the specific duties of each embassy and Regional Support Center Frankfurt, accountability, and performance metrics. After a reasonable evaluation period, the bureau and embassies should evaluate whether to continue or further revise the arrangement.
The Bureau of Administration should determine if Embassy Sofia’s policy that allows the regional security officer use of a government-owned vehicle for home-to-office transportation at no cost is allowable and conforms to Department regulations.
Embassy Sofia should direct the regional security officer to discontinue use of the local guard force vehicle.
Embassy Sofia should implement controls for drivers to complete and turn in Optional Form-108, Daily Vehicle Use Record.
Embassy Sofia’s safety, health, and environmental management committee should meet at least semiannually.
Embassy Sofia should require the American Employee Recreation Association to complete its review of operations and revise its charter to include only self-supporting or profitable services.