Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock
()
or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Department of State
U.S. Agency for Global Media
Sensitive Information Redacted
Sensitive Information Redacted
Sensitive Information Redacted
Sensitive Information Redacted
Sensitive Information Redacted
Sensitive Information Redacted
Sensitive Information Redacted
Sensitive Information Redacted
Sensitive Information Redacted
Sensitive Information Redacted
Sensitive Information Redacted
Sensitive Information Redacted
Sensitive Information Redacted
Sensitive Information Redacted
Sensitive Information Redacted
Sensitive Information Redacted
Sensitive Information Redacted
Sensitive Information Redacted
Sensitive Information Redacted
Sensitive Information Redacted
Sensitive Information Redacted
Sensitive Information Redacted
Sensitive Information Redacted
Sensitive Information Redacted
Sensitive Information Redacted
The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor should implement quality control procedures to regularly update risk assessments and monitoring plans in accordance with the Federal Assistance Directive.
The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor should implement quality control procedures to plan, conduct, and document site visits in accordance with grant monitoring plans and the Federal Assistance Directive.
The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, in coordination with the Bureau of Administration, should finalize a service level agreement clarifying the Bureau of Administration’s responsibilities for grants support.
The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor should implement a process to identify and reclassify foreign assistance funds before they cancel that includes a review of obligations on unexpired awards.
The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor should modify its grants processes to accurately record expenditures in the Department’s financial system.
The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, in coordination with the Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services and the Office of the Legal Adviser, should determine whether grants payment irregularities identified for award number S-LMAQM-17-CA-1232 constitute a violation of the Anti-Deficiency Act and, if so, report the violation.
The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor should institute a formal, periodic process to develop policy goals, monitor results, and align resources with priorities.
The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor should direct the Office of International Religious Freedom to complete development of curriculum for mandatory training on international religious freedom required by the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act.
The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor should develop internal control procedures for the Leahy program and monitor compliance with the procedures.
The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor should develop performance and workload metrics to inform resource requirements for the Office of Security and Human Rights.
The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor should identify and train dedicated staff to fulfill its statutory responsibilities to provide timely human rights assessments in connection with visa processing.
The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, in coordination with the Bureau of Consular Affairs and the Office of the Legal Adviser, should update and issue a standard operating procedure for processing human rights-related visa ineligibilities under Section 7031(c) of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017.
The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, in coordination with the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, should monitor and document the performance of its labor-hours contracts in accordance with Department standards.
The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, in coordination with the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, should develop a project plan for the INVESTc project to meet Department and Federal information technology budget planning standards.
The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, in coordination with the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, should appoint a technically qualified direct-hire project manager to oversee the INVESTc project to ensure it meets Department information technology standards.
The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, in coordination with the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, should update the INVEST system’s authorization to operate, in accordance with Department standards.
The U.S. Mission to Somalia should review and correct its process for preparing the annual Chief of Mission Management Controls Statement of Assurance to identify vulnerabilities in accordance with Department guidance.
The U.S. Mission to Somalia should sign a memorandum of agreement for Security and Force Protection of Department of Defense elements and personnel with the Combatant Commander of United States Africa Command in accordance with Department standards.
The Bureau of Administration, in coordination with the U.S. Mission to Somalia and the Bureau of African Affairs, should finalize all risk mitigation plans for third-party contracts as required by Department guidance.
The U.S. Mission to Somalia, in coordination with the Bureau of African Affairs, should conduct a risk assessment to determine whether counterterrorism name-check vetting or other enhanced monitoring of foreign assistance to Somalia is warranted to mitigate terrorist finance risks.
The U.S. Mission to Somalia, in coordination with the Bureau of Administration, should bring the outstanding FY 2016 grants awards into compliance with Department standards.
The U.S. Mission to Somalia should implement a records management program in accordance with Department standards.
The U.S. Mission to Somalia should appoint a post records coordinator in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Nairobi should review and update its process for preparing the annual Statement of Assurance prior to preparing its 2018 statement, in accordance with Department guidance.
Embassy Nairobi, in coordination with the Bureau of African Affairs, should develop a foreign assistance coordination process for use by the embassy and all Department bureaus to ensure all assistance programming receives chief of mission approval prior to implementation.
The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, in coordination with Embassy Nairobi, should designate a contracting officer representative with the appropriate technical experience required to review and certify construction work in Kenya in accordance with Department standards.
The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, in coordination with Embassy Nairobi, should determine if the defective renovations identified in the building intended for the Kenyan police unit can be classified as latent defects, fraud, or gross mistakes amounting to fraud, as outlined in the contract terms and conditions, and if so, require the contractor to correct the deficiencies at no cost to the U.S. Government, in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation.
Embassy Nairobi should close out its outstanding grants awards in compliance with Department standards.
Embassy Nairobi should require Public Affairs Section supervisors to complete all locally employed staff performance evaluations in accordance with Department guidance.
Embassy Nairobi, in coordination with the Bureau of African Affairs and the Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services, should reprogram one program-funded information management position to an International Cooperative Administrative Support Services-funded position in accordance with Department guidelines and put $81,331 to better use.
Embassy Nairobi should prepare an annual acquisition plan and obtain input from the U.S. Mission to Somalia on its plan.
Embassy Nairobi should require all contracting officer representatives to administer their contracts in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Nairobi should clear its electronic filing backlog in accordance with Department guidelines.
Embassy Nairobi should renegotiate the terms of the five make-ready contracts and lower the minimum number of residences guaranteed to each of the contractors.
Embassy Nairobi should bring all professional drivers and incidental operators into compliance with the Department’s standards for motor vehicle safety management.
Embassy Nairobi should establish a comprehensive corrective action plan to certify all residences for occupancy in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Nairobi should renegotiate all residential leases that do not comply with Department guidance and use the model lease as required by Department standards.
Embassy Nairobi should execute a new lease for the tactical holding facility in accordance with Department leasing procedures.
Embassy Nairobi should conduct a utilization survey and sell or dispose of excess inventory in accordance with Department standards, and put up to $14 million to better use.
Embassy Nairobi should conduct spot checks of all of its expendable and non-expendable property in accordance with Department standards prior to moving to its new warehouse.
Embassy Nairobi should ensure that all residential inventories are accounted for and documented in its files in accordance with Department guidelines.
Embassy Nairobi should terminate official payments for private domestic staff without legally obligating documentation.
Embassy Nairobi should develop and implement standard procedures to accurately track and record employee receivables in accordance with Department requirements.
Embassy Nairobi should bring the subcashiering program into compliance with Department requirements.
Embassy Nairobi should implement written procedures to review unliquidated obligations, including deobligating all funds when offices do not provide documentation that the obligations are valid.
Embassy Nairobi should review all unliquidated obligations with no activity for over one year, deobligate those that are no longer valid in accordance with Department standards, and put up to $1.7 million to better use.
Embassy Nairobi should cease using the American Employee Association to provide payroll services for official residence staff until it has complied with the requirements of 6 Foreign Affairs Manual 500.
Embassy Nairobi should submit the hotel and restaurant report for all listed localities in Kenya to the Office of Allowances.
Embassy Nairobi should perform all Information Systems Security Officer duties, including consistent reviews, in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Nairobi, in coordination with the Bureau of Diplomatic Security and the Bureau of Information Resource Management, should remediate all physical cybersecurity recommendations from Department reviews.
Embassy Nairobi should implement a records management program that complies with Department standards.
Embassy Nairobi should upgrade the residential compound basement storage area to meet environmental standards or identify a suitable location for inactive records storage.
Embassy Nairobi should implement monthly testing of the emergency action committee radio network, in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Nairobi, in coordination with the Bureau of Information Resource Management, should update the communications appendix in the emergency action plan.
Embassy Nairobi should implement its standard operating procedures for managing and tracking mobile devices and encrypted flash drives, as required by Department standards.
Embassy Nairobi should dispose of obsolete sensitive information processing equipment, in accordance with Department guidance.
Sensitive Information Redacted
Sensitive Information Redacted
Sensitive Information Redacted
Sensitive Information Redacted
Sensitive Information Redacted
Sensitive Information Redacted
OIG recommends that the Under Secretary for Management develop and implement a plan to enforce the centralized management and oversight of all Department aviation programs and assets, including oversight of and approval by the Aviation Governing Board, on all decisions related to providing aviation services, in accordance with the Foreign Affairs Manual.
OIG recommends that the Aviation Governing Board, in coordination with the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, update the Aviation Governing Board Charter to align with its role and responsibilities outlined in Volume 2 of the Foreign Affairs Manual 800, and implement procedures to effectively manage and use Department aviation resources that support foreign affairs requirements overseas, including updating the voting Board members.
OIG recommends that the Aviation Governing Board, in coordination with the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, develop and implement a detailed strategic plan for all of the Department of State’s aviation needs, including medical needs and country-specific needs like those of Embassy Bogota. The plan should have clear goals and attainable objectives, both at the headquarters level and for each country of operation.
OIG recommends that the Aviation Governing Board, in coordination with the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, develop and implement procedures requiring that a cost-benefit analysis is performed and its results considered before deciding whether to acquire an aircraft and begin or end aviation operations in a country.
OIG recommends that the Under Secretary for Management review the decision to expend $70.9 million to operate the Cyprus Air Base and make a determination as to whether the expenditures were necessary or reasonable considering the lack of benefit to the Department of State.
OIG recommends that the Under Secretary for Management review the decision to expend $174,090 to store aircraft and make a determination as to whether the expenditures were necessary or reasonable considering the lack of benefit to the Department of State.
OIG recommends that the Under Secretary for Management review the decision to expend $1.2 million to acquire and refurbish three aircraft for the Philippines Coast Guard and make a determination as to whether the expenditure was necessary or reasonable considering the lack of benefit to the Department of State or the Philippine Coast Guard.
OIG recommends that the Aviation Governing Board (AGB), in coordination with the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), revise Volume 2 of the Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) 800 to clarify that INL is the sole provider of aviation services for the Department of State and any requests for exceptions to, or waiver of this policy, along with a written justification, must be submitted to and approved by the AGB. The FAM revision should include a requirement for a periodic review of the decision to determine whether it remains beneficial.
OIG recommends that the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) update the “INL Financial Management Handbook” to include guidance related to recording assets purchased with INL project funding or transferred to INL from another agency that are not being donated to a host government in the Integrated Logistics Management System.
OIG recommends that the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) implement a process to ensure it performs Property Management System Analysis inspections of INL operations in all countries with aviation programs.
OIG recommends that Embassy Bogota, Colombia, in coordination with the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, identify all Department-owned aviation assets in Colombia that meet the definition of accountable property and record them in the Integrated Logistics Management System.
OIG recommends that Embassy Lima, Peru, in coordination with the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, identify all Department-owned aviation assets in Peru that meet the definition of accountable property and record them in the Integrated Logistics Management System.
OIG recommends that the Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services, in coordination with the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, develop updated formal policies, procedures, and implementing guidance to ensure that Department of State aviation assets, including assets donated by other agencies, are accurately valued when initially obtained and the correct value is recorded in the accounting system.
OIG recommends that the Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services, in coordination with the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, develop policies, procedures, and implementing guidance to update the valuation of an aircraft after undergoing other-than-routine maintenance, including both programmed depot maintenance and phase maintenance.
OIG recommends that the Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services, in coordination with the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, develop and implement policies, procedures, and implementing guidance to determine when an aircraft should be considered “In Service” and “Not in Service” and to update the status of the aircraft in the Integrated Logistics Management System.
OIG recommends that the Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services, in coordination with the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, review and update all aircraft valuations, including accumulated depreciation, taking into account the acquisition value, the amount of any refurbishments, and the impact of any periods the aircraft was not in service.
OIG recommends that the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, in coordination with the Bureau of Administration, develop and implement a policy and implementing guidance on the process for overseas aviation asset disposal, which should include clear instructions on the appropriate forms and approvals that are needed.
OIG recommends that the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, in coordination with the Bureau of Administration, develop and implement a policy and implementing guidance on the process for domestic aviation asset disposal, which should include clear instructions on the appropriate forms and approvals that are needed.
OIG recommends that the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, in coordination with the Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services, develop and implement an action plan to use the $8,303,020 identified in this report as funds that could be put to better use to replace similar property needed at other locations.
OIG recommends that the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, in coordination with the Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services, develop and implement guidance to use proceeds of sale from aviation assets for replacement property.
OIG recommends that the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs develop and implement a methodology for obtaining systematic input from each Senior Aviation Advisor and Government Technical Monitor when developing statements of requirements, performance standards, and the quality assurance plan for contractors performing maintenance of aircraft and incorporating, as appropriate, the input into the new worldwide aviation support services contract.
OIG recommends that the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs develop and implement policies and procedures requiring that all country-specific aviation programs use SeeSOR for quality assurance oversight.
OIG recommends that the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs develop and implement policies and procedures requiring that all foreign assistance aviation programs have documented nationalization plans with clear goals and attainable objectives, both at the headquarters level and for each country of operation.
OIG recommends that Embassy Panama City, Panama, develop and implement a documented nationalization plan with clear goals and attainable objectives for the aviation program.
OIG recommends that Embassy Lima, Peru, develop and implement a documented nationalization plan with clear goals and attainable objectives for the aviation program.
Last Updated:
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.
