Recommendations

Department of State

444

Open Unclassified Recommendations¹

134

Open Sensitive But Unclassified Recommendations²

416

Open Classified Recommendations³

U.S. Agency for Global Media

0

Open Unclassified Recommendations¹

36

Open Sensitive But Unclassified Recommendations²

0

Open Classified Recommendations³

Department recommendations include 49 recommendations that are associated with the International Boundary Water Commission.

Keyword or Phrase

Action Office

Status

Financial Value

Significant

Issued Date (From)

Issued Date (To)

Reports Per Page

Audit of Department of State FY 2019 Compliance With Improper Payments Requirements

AUD-FM-20-31 May 2020

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services revise and implement quality control review procedures over its Phase II qualitative risk assessment for the OIG audit report risk factor process. At a minimum, the revised procedures should include documented independent reviews of staff risk assessment documentation that confirm scoring methodologies were based on the number of OIG recommendations rather than the number of reports and that all OIG reports, not only publicly available reports, were evaluated for potential improper payment.

Follow-Up Audit of Department of State Efforts To Measure, Evaluate, and Sustain Antiterrorism Assistance Objectives in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs

AUD-MERO-20-32 May 2020

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Counterterrorism, in coordination with the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, update the 2015 Memorandum of Agreement to clarify which bureau is responsible for collecting data on each type of performance indicator, including baselines, output measures, and long-term outcomes.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Counterterrorism, in coordination with the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, establish a mechanism to report Department of Defense-funded Antiterrorism Assistance training and update the 2015 Memorandum of Agreement to clarify which bureau is responsible for collecting and reporting this information.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Counterterrorism, in coordination with the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, establish a mechanism to monitor regionally funded and mentorship Antiterrorism Assistance training programs and update the 2015 Memorandum of Agreement to clarify which bureau is responsible for collecting and reporting this information.
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Counterterrorism, in coordination with the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, revise the Antiterrorism Assistance Monitoring Plan and quarterly report template to include measures on sustainability in accordance with the Foreign Affairs Manual and update the Memorandum of Agreement to clarify which bureau is responsible for collecting and reporting this information.

Inspection of Embassy Bern, Switzerland

ISP-I-20-21 May 2020

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented Significant

Embassy Bern, in coordination with the Bureaus of Consular Affairs, Diplomatic Security, and Overseas Buildings Operations, should conduct a cost-benefit analysis to determine whether to continue consular operations in Zurich and Geneva or instead to consolidate them in the embassy.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented

Embassy Bern, in coordination with the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, should provide accommodations for consular applicants in accordance with Department standards.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented

Embassy Bern should conduct a review of its blanket purchase agreements in accordance with Department standards.
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Implemented

Embassy Bern should bring its Motor Vehicle Safety Management Program into compliance with Department standards.
Recommendation Number

5

Closed Implemented

Embassy Bern should include all facilities management expendable supplies in the embassy’s inventory records in accordance with Department standards.
Recommendation Number

6

Closed Implemented

Embassy Bern, in coordination with the Bureau of Global Talent Management, should update its local compensation plan to comply with Government of Switzerland labor law, in accordance with Department standards.
Recommendation Number

7

Closed Implemented

Embassy Bern should require the Information Systems Security Officers to perform their duties in accordance with Department guidance.
Recommendation Number

8

Closed Implemented

Embassy Bern should test the information technology contingency plans for the unclassified and classified networks annually, in accordance with Department standards.
Recommendation Number

9

Closed Implemented

Embassy Bern should implement a plan to conduct initial and annual refresher information technology contingency training for employees with information technology contingency planning responsibilities.
Recommendation Number

10

Closed Implemented

Embassy Bern should implement a records management program that complies with Department standards.

(U) Audit of Global Engagement Center Federal Assistance Award Management and Monitoring

AUD-MERO-20-26 April 2020

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Global Engagement Center complete a staffing needs assessment to determine the appropriate number and experience level needed for Grants Officers, Grants Officer Representatives, Project Officers, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialists, and Grants Administrators to effectively manage and monitor its complement of Federal assistance awards.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Global Engagement Center implement to the extent feasible the results of the staffing needs assessment conducted in response to Recommendation 1.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Global Engagement Center clearly identify and designate roles and responsibilities for personnel serving as Grants Officers, Grants Officer Representatives, Project Officers, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialists, and Grants Administrators for all Federal assistance awards and inform award recipients to enhance transparency and ensure that information is clearly communicated to all involved parties.
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Global Engagement Center establish and implement policies, processes, and procedures for awarding, managing, and monitoring Federal assistance awards.
Recommendation Number

5

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Global Engagement Center establish performance standards with respect to application of the policies, processes, and procedures developed and implemented in Recommendation 4.

Management Assistance Report: The Bureau of African Affairs Should Improve Performance Work Statements and Increase Subject Matter Expertise for Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership Projects

AUD-MERO-20-29 April 2020

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented $3,336,898 Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of African Affairs review the decision to expend $3,336,898 on revisions to contract SAQMMA15F3938 and make a determination as to whether the expenditures were necessary or reasonable.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented $1,127,802 Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of African Affairs determine whether the questioned costs of $1,127,802 expended for modifications to Contract 19AQMM18F4856 were necessary or reasonable.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented $10,165,351 Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of African Affairs review the decision to expend $10,165,351 for the Regional Boat Capability Program in Cameroon to determine whether (a) the program is feasible and the equipment provided can be used to achieve the purpose of the award and b) the expenditure was reasonable or necessary.
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of African Affairs (a) suspend future obligations on the Regional Boat Capability Program until a review (Recommendation 3) of the program is complete and (b) determine whether the funding should be continued if the program is not feasible and the equipment provided cannot be used to achieve the intended purpose.
Recommendation Number

5

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of African Affairs establish and implement a policy to provide appropriate training to all contract personnel who contribute to the development of performance work statements, in accordance with the Foreign Affairs Manual, 14 FAM 221.6.d, “Performance-Based Statements of Work.”
Recommendation Number

6

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of African Affairs establish and implement a process to (a) analyze all Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership projects for which it assigns Contracting Officer’s Representatives (CORs) and determine the appropriate level of technical subject matter expertise needed for each, (b) document the analyses and determinations, (c) nominate only those CORs with the necessary technical expertise to prepare performance work statements and oversee the contract, and (d) verify that all COR written nomination letters presented to the Contracting Officer include the COR nominees’ technical expertise, as required by the Foreign Affairs Handbook, 14 FAH-2 H-143.2, “COR Appointment Procedures.”
Recommendation Number

7

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of African Affairs 1. (a) establish and maintain a list of subject matter experts from U.S. Government entities participating in the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership who can be assigned to assist with the development of performance work statements and contract oversight, (b) establish agreements with U.S. Government entities participating in the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership to provide expertise, and (c) establish and implement a policy for Contracting Officer’s Representatives to use subject matter experts in the development of performance work statements and contract oversight OR 2. the Bureau can determine where and how to seek subject matter expertise. Experts must be able to assist Contracting Officer’s Representatives with the development of performance work statements and contract oversight.

Management Assistance Report: Legal Determination Concerning Department of State Non-Acquisition Interagency Agreements Is Needed

AUD-MERO-20-24 April 2020

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Office of the Legal Adviser render a legal determination regarding the use of a notice to proceed to extend the period of performance for a non-acquisition interagency agreement and provide this legal determination to the Bureau of Administration, Office of the Procurement Executive, for codification into Procurement Information Bulletin 2014-05 and other Department of State policy governing non-acquisition interagency agreements.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of the Procurement Executive, update Procurement Information Bulletin 2014-05 and other Department of State policy governing non-acquisition interagency agreements, once it receives the legal determination resulting from Recommendation 1, regarding the use of a notice to proceed to extend the period of performance for a non-acquisition interagency agreement, to incorporate the policy and communicate the determination to all relevant stakeholders.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Office of the Legal Adviser (a) render a legal determination regarding whether unauthorized commitments can occur under a non-acquisition interagency agreement and whether ratification procedures are required and, if so, (b) develop, in coordination with the Bureau of Administration, Office of the Procurement Executive, ratification procedures for non-acquisition interagency agreements for the Department of State.
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of the Procurement Executive, update Procurement Information Bulletin 2014-05 and other Department of State policy governing non-acquisition interagency agreements, once it receives the legal determination and ratification procedures resulting from Recommendation 3, to incorporate the policy and communicate the ratification procedures to all relevant stakeholders.

Inspection of Embassy Vilnius, Lithuania

ISP-I-20-29 April 2020

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented

Embassy Vilnius, in coordination with the Bureau of Consular Affairs, should install signage at the Consular Section’s public entrance with all information required in Department guidance.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented

Embassy Vilnius, in coordination with the Bureaus of Overseas Buildings Operations and Consular Affairs, should provide a wheelchair-accessible interview window for consular applicants in accordance with Department standards.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented

Embassy Vilnius should document safety inspections of office workplace areas and increased risk areas and operations in accordance with Department guidelines.
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Implemented

Embassy Vilnius should require its Information Systems Security Officers to perform information systems security duties in accordance with Department standards.
Recommendation Number

5

Closed Implemented

Embassy Vilnius, in coordination with the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, should implement short- and long-term strategies to mitigate and resolve server room deficiencies that violate Department and Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards.
Recommendation Number

6

Closed Implemented

Embassy Vilnius should implement a records management program that complies with Department standards.

Management Assistance Report: Foreign Service Institute Wireless User Access Controls

ESP-20-03 March 2020

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented

The Foreign Service Institute should ensure that its guest wireless network complies with the Department’s wireless security standards.

Audit of Selected Bureau of Administration, Office of Operations, Office of Facilities Management Services, Contracts

AUD-CGI-20-21 March 2020

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of Operations, Office of Facilities Management Services, develop and implement procedures to monitor and verify the completeness, accessibility, retention, and review of Contracting Officer’s Representative files in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 1.604(c) and the Foreign Affairs Handbook 14 FAH-2 H-142(b) and 14 FAH-2 H-517(a-b).
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of the Procurement Executive, Office of Acquisitions Management, develop and implement procedures to verify that Contracting Officers are monitoring Contracting Officer’s Representative files in accordance with Procurement Information Bulletin No. 2014-10.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of Operations, Office of Facilities Management Services, develop and implement (a) guidance that prescribes how a departing Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) must transfer required supporting documentation for a task order to a replacement COR and how to verify that the transferred file is complete and all required documentation has been retained and (b) a mechanism that requires the supervisor of the COR to certify that the COR’s file was complete and correct following transfer, in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation and Department of State guidance.
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that Bureau of Administration, Office of Operations, Office of Facilities Management Services, require Contracting Officer’s Representatives to use eFiling for all Bureau of Administration, Office of Operations, Office of Facilities Management Services, contracts and task orders.
Recommendation Number

5

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of Operations, Office of Facilities Management Services, develop and implement procedures for Contracting Officer’s Representatives to (a) obtain and verify that supporting documentation submitted with an invoice is accurate and complete, (b) document their invoice review to demonstrate costs and supporting documentation were verified, and (c) confirm that labor hours billed are supported by contractor timesheets and charged to the corresponding task order.
Recommendation Number

6

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of Operations, Office of Facilities Management Services, in coordination with the Bureau of Administration, Office of the Procurement Executive, Office of Acquisitions Management, develop and implement procedures for Contracting Officers to develop appropriate quality assurance surveillance plans for all facilities management service contracts and for Contracting Officer’s Representatives to execute quality assurance surveillance plans in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation and Department of State guidance.
Recommendation Number

7

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of the Procurement Executive, Office of Acquisitions Management, develop and implement a communication strategy to emphasize Contracting Officers’ responsibilities to tailor designation memoranda, as necessary, to identify specific duties, responsibilities, and limitations for each contract or task order administered.
Recommendation Number

8

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of Operations, Office of Facilities Management Services, develop and implement procedures requiring supervisors of Contracting Officer’s Representatives (COR) to update work commitments to reflect COR responsibilities in accordance with the Foreign Affairs Handbook, 14 FAH-2 H-114; obtain formal feedback from Contracting Officers regarding employee performance; and incorporate this feedback into the COR’s annual performance evaluation and rating.
Recommendation Number

9

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of Operations, Office of Facilities Management Services, in coordination with the Bureau of Administration, Office of the Procurement Executive, Office of Acquisitions Management, develop and implement procedures that prescribe who is responsible for significant aspects of the acquisition plan including requirements, timeframes, and levels of oversight for acquisition planning in the administration of Facilities Management Services contracts.

Audit of the Office of the Coordinator for Assistance to Europe and Eurasia’s Oversight of Foreign Assistance Funds Transferred to Implementing Partners

AUD-CGI-20-12 March 2020

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, Office of the Coordinator for Assistance to Europe and Eurasia, develop and implement standard operating procedures (a) to verify that its implementing partners have appropriate procedures in place for managing, monitoring, and evaluating the outcomes pertaining to the use of foreign assistance funds, commensurate with 18 FAM 301.4-2, “Program Project/Design” 18 FAM 301.4-3, “Monitoring,” and 18 FAM 301.4-4, “Evaluation,” and (b) to outline how and what information ACE will obtain from its implementing partners to ensure the sound management of foreign assistance funds provided to its implementing partners, as required by 18 FAM 301.4-6(B)(a), “Transfer of Foreign Assistance Funds,” which at a minimum include sufficient monitoring data associated with the funds to determine if adequate progress and results are being achieved and any evaluation findings related to the outcomes achieved with the funds.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, Office of the Coordinator for Assistance to Europe and Eurasia, develop and implement an appropriate tool to maintain, track, and continually analyze foreign assistance programs under its purview.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, Office of the Coordinator for Assistance to Europe and Eurasia, develop and implement standard operating procedures to guide the consistent and uniform collection, analysis, use, and maintenance of monitoring and evaluation data provided by implementing partners.
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, Office of the Coordinator for Assistance to Europe and Eurasia (ACE), include, within fund transfer agreements, specific information on the programs and projects the implementing partner is responsible for, the specific region goals that the implementing partner must address and report on performance outcomes, and how the funds provided by ACE achieved desired results.
Recommendation Number

5

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, Office of the Coordinator for Assistance to Europe and Eurasia (ACE), amend the draft “standards and practices” for implementing partners to include the standard operating procedures ACE will follow to verify that partners are conducting monitoring, such as developing performance indicators and monitoring plans, required by Department policy and issue once finalized.
Recommendation Number

6

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, Office of the Coordinator for Assistance to Europe and Eurasia (ACE), develop and implement standard operating procedures to periodically communicate to implementing partners (a) Department of State (Department) requirements about managing, monitoring, and evaluating the outcome(s) of funds provided by the Department and (b) expectations for reporting data and information to ACE for the purpose of verifying the sound management of the funds provided and for making informed decisions about program strategies and resource investments.

7467 recommendations in total

Last Updated: June 7th, 2026

Note: The information includes all open recommendations from reports that were issued October 1, 2014. Potential Monetary Benefits values are as stated in reports—subsequent Department and USAGM management decisions and actions may result in different values.

Includes unclassified recommendations in unclassified reports; also includes unclassified recommendations in SBU reports that are publicly available.
Includes SBU recommendations in SBU reports; also includes unclassified recommendations in SBU reports that are not publicly available.
Includes classified recommendations in classified reports; also includes unclassified recommendations in classified reports.

Recommendations

444

$15,045,004

134

$0

416

$218,173,822

0

$0

36

$0

0

$0