Report Contents
What OIG Inspected
OIG reviewed the executive direction, foreign policy priorities, policy and program implementation, resource management, and information management operations of the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs.
What OIG Found
• The acting Assistant Secretary set a positive tone for the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs and generally led the bureau in accordance with Department of State leadership and management principles.
• Department and interagency stakeholders described the bureau as a collaborative partner in the interagency policy process.
• Staff reported concerns that resources did not keep pace with workload growth related to sanctions actions, debt restructuring, investment screening, business conduct mediations, infrastructure security, and foreign assistance programs.
• The bureau lacked standard operating procedures and capacity to manage its foreign assistance programs.
• The bureau’s contract and contracting officer’s representative files did not comply with Department standards.
• The bureau’s information management operations had deficiencies in records management, the performance of information systems security officer duties, and knowledge management processes.
What OIG Recommends
OIG made 6 recommendations to the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs. In its comments on the draft report, the bureau concurred with all 6 recommendations. OIG considers all 6 recommendations resolved. The bureau’s response to each recommendation and OIG’s reply can be found in the Recommendations section of this report. The bureau’s formal response is reprinted in its entirety in Appendix B.
Report Terms
Report Recommendations
The Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs should implement standard operating procedures for planning and managing foreign assistance programs and federal assistance awards in accordance with Department standards.
The Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs should implement a training plan for staff responsible for planning and managing foreign assistance programs and federal assistance awards.
The Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, in coordination with the Bureau of Administration, should bring its contract and contracting officer’s representative files into compliance with Department and federal guidance.
The Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs should require information systems security officers to perform their duties in accordance with Department standards.
The Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs should implement a records management program that complies with Department standards.
The Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs should implement knowledge management procedures for capturing, sharing, transferring, and retaining information related to its information management program.