Report Contents
What OIG Inspected
OIG inspected the executive direction, policy and program implementation, resource management, and information management operations of Embassy Muscat.
What OIG Recommends
OIG made 18 recommendations to Embassy Muscat. In its comments on the draft report, the Department concurred with 18 recommendations. OIG considers 18 recommendations resolved. The Department’s response to each recommendation and OIG’s reply can be found in the Recommendations section of this report. The embassy’s formal response is reprinted in its entirety in Appendix B.
What OIG Found
• The Ambassador and Deputy Chief of Mission generally modeled the Department of State’s leadership principles, particularly communication, self-awareness, and valuing and developing people.
• Embassy Muscat’s Political-Economic Section advanced Integrated Country Strategy and Department priorities.
• The Public Diplomacy Section’s grants files did not consistently meet Department standards.
• Embassy Muscat’s Consular Section had deficiencies related to managing workload, inadequate space, the inventory of controlled items, and answering correspondence.
• Embassy Muscat had internal control issues in general services, facility management, financial management, and human resources.
• The embassy had information management internal control deficiencies related to the telephone system, inventory, training, and procurement of information technology equipment.
Report Terms
Report Recommendations
Embassy Muscat should bring its public diplomacy grants into compliance with Department standards.
Embassy Muscat should bring the Consular Section’s workload management into compliance with Department standards.
Embassy Muscat, in coordination with the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations and Bureau of Consular Affairs, should bring the Consular Section’s physical space into compliance with Department standards.
Embassy Muscat should complete audits of controlled consular supplies in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Muscat should reply to congressional correspondence in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Muscat should comply with all Department Motor Vehicle Safety Management Program standards for incidental drivers under chief of mission authority.
Embassy Muscat should bring its contracting officer’s representative program into compliance with Department standards.
Embassy Muscat should enforce the requirement for vendors to register in the System for Award Management.
Embassy Muscat should close out procurement files in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Muscat should manage its property in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Muscat should bring its safety, health, and environmental management program into compliance with Department standards.
Embassy Muscat, in coordination with the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, should determine if the purchase of bottled drinking water is necessary, in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Muscat should require supervisors to approve staff requests for overtime in advance, in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Muscat, in coordination with the Bureaus of Budget and Planning, the Comptroller and Global Financial Services, and Near Eastern Affairs, should reprogram additional Department-funded Diplomatic Technology positions to International Cooperative Administrative Support Services-funded positions in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Muscat should implement a local configuration management protocol to comply with Department standards.
Embassy Muscat should bring telephone operations into compliance with Department standards.
Embassy Muscat should require all Diplomatic Technology staff to complete the required information assurance training in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Muscat should implement an acquisition plan that is cost effective and efficient in accordance with Department standards.