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

Department of State Stabilization Programs in Syria Funded Under the Further Continuing and Security Assistance Appropriations Act, 2017

ISP-I-18-29 September 2018

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented Significant

The Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, in coordination with the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, should prepare a memorandum for the Secretary that identifies lessons learned from opening the Syria Transition Assistance Response Team Forward office in Syria and proposals for developing permanent interagency institutional mechanisms to facilitate deployment of Department personnel for future stabilization missions.

Audit of Cost Controls Within the Baghdad Life Support Services Contract Food Services Task Order SAQMMA14F0721

AUD-MERO-18-55 August 2018

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of Logistics Management, Office of Acquisitions Management, (a) direct the Contracting Officer’s Representative for Baghdad Life Support Services (BLiSS) food services task order SAQMMA14F0721 to update, within 30 days, the BLiSS food services inspection checklist to include steps for monitoring and documenting the contractor’s compliance with all required elements of its cost control plan and (b) verify that the checklist has been updated and implemented.
Recommendation Number

2

Open Resolved Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs incorporate requirements for food services cost controls and a contractor cost control plan into the new worldwide support services contract and develop an acquisition plan that addresses their implementation and comprehensive oversight.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of Logistics Management, Office of Acquisitions Management, assess the cause(s) of Contracting Officer noncompliance with definitization requirements—established in Federal Acquisition Regulation 16.603 and Memorandum 17–01, “Definitization of Letter Contracts/Undefinitized Contract Actions (UCA)” —and develop and implement a corrective action plan to prevent and deter future noncompliance.
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of Logistics Management, Office of Acquisitions Management, update Memorandum 17-01, “Definitization of Letter Contracts/Undefinitized Contract Actions (UCA),” to outline administrative actions to be taken against Contracting Officers if they do not comply with Federal regulations and Department policy for timely definitization of letter contracts.

Audit of the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations’ Value Engineering Program

AUD-CGI-18-54 August 2018

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations develop and implement a communications strategy to periodically keep Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations personnel informed of the purpose and requirements of the value engineering program and respective roles in maintaining value engineering program data.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (a) develop standards to assess adherence to value engineering program requirements and (b) insert those standards into the work commitments and annual performance evaluations of all personnel substantially involved with the value engineering program.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations develop and implement a quality assurance process to periodically (and no less than bi-annually) validate that it is: (a) implementing value engineering study recommendations that are considered reasonable and that offer a potential for cost savings, cost avoidances, and expenditures; (b) considering all value engineering study recommendations offered and documenting the basis for rejecting recommendations; and (c) informing the Director of the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations about the results of the quality assurance review.
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations develop and implement procedures to verify that the current value engineering database is updated with accurate and current value engineering information when value engineering documentation and data are received.
Recommendation Number

5

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations develop and implement a central repository to maintain complete and accurate value engineering program information to include, at a minimum: value engineering studies, implementation spreadsheets, implementation memoranda, requests for and approval of waivers, calculations regarding value engineering cost savings and cost avoidances for recommendations implemented, and the justifications for rejecting value engineering study recommendations.
Recommendation Number

6

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations annually post to its public internet site the results of the value engineering program to highlight successful uses of value engineering and to demonstrate that the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations is committed to identifying and removing nonessential capital and operating costs from its construction projects and is prudently using U.S. taxpayer funds to advance its mission.

Review of the Bureau of Administration, Office of Logistics Management, Critical Environment Contract Analysis Staff's Counterterrorism Vetting Function (Risk Analysis and Management)

ISP-I-18-27 August 2018

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Administration should establish a counterterrorism vetting fee based on actual costs and establish a schedule for periodic review of the fee, in accordance with Department guidance.

Inspection of the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ Office of Fraud Prevention Programs

ISP-I-18-42 August 2018

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Consular Affairs should require the Office of Fraud Prevention Programs to implement procedures to evaluate internal programs and products.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Consular Affairs should require the Office of Fraud Prevention Programs to implement a centralized repository to record all training activities.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Human Resources, in coordination with the Bureau of Consular Affairs, should conduct a maintenance review of the Office of Fraud Prevention Programs’ position descriptions.
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Consular Affairs should require that the Office of Fraud Prevention Programs administer contracts in accordance with Department standards.
Recommendation Number

5

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Consular Affairs should implement access controls and information security oversight procedures for the Office of Fraud Prevention Programs’ standalone data analytics test network as required by Department standards.
Recommendation Number

6

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Consular Affairs should perform an assessment to determine the security categorization of the Office of Fraud Prevention Programs’ case management system and implement required security controls in accordance with Federal standards.
Recommendation Number

7

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Consular Affairs should implement a records management program for the Office of Fraud Prevention Programs that complies with Department standards.
Recommendation Number

8

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Consular Affairs should implement a website content management process for the Office of Fraud Prevention Programs that includes a dedicated team responsible for the regular updating of website content.

Audit of Foreign Assistance for Internally Displaced Persons in Iraq

AUD-MERO-18-56 August 2018

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration provide training to its program officers responsible for managing voluntary contributions for internally displaced persons in Iraq on adhering to its guidance on uploading and managing files in the State Assistance Management System Domestic.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration develop and implement a process to validate periodically, at least annually, that the required documentation associated with the voluntary contributions for internally displaced persons in Iraq is recorded and maintained in the State Assistance Management System Domestic.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration obtain written clarification from the Director, Office of U.S. Foreign Assistance Resources, that approval of the PRM financial plan is in accordance with language included in Delegation of Authority 293-2 regarding approval of Migration and Refugee Assistance Act funding.

Management Assistance Report: Use of Confidentiality Agreements by a Department of State Contractor

ESP-18-03 August 2018

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented Significant

The Bureau of Administration, Office of Logistics Management (A/LM) should order MSA Security, Inc. (MSA) to rescind its confidentiality agreements or to modify them to include an exception for reporting fraud, waste, or abuse to a designated investigative or law enforcement representative and to notify all employees regarding the rescission or modification. If MSA does not promptly rescind or modify these agreements, A/LM should terminate its contracts with MSA for default.

Management Assistance Report: Dispersal of Contracting Officer Representatives Creates Oversight Challenges

ISP-I-18-33 August 2018

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Administration should issue guidance to require contracting officer representatives to maintain contract files in the electronic contracting officer representative filing system within 180 days of the final issuance of this report.

Audit of the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Administration and Oversight of Selected Contracts and Grants

AUD-CGI-18-50 August 2018

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented

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

2

Open Resolved

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

3

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, in coordination with the Bureau of Administration, Office of Logistics Management, Office of Acquisitions Management, develop and implement a communications strategy to ensure that Contracting Officer’s Representatives are aware that a quality assurance surveillance plan is required for contracts and task orders.
Recommendation Number

4

Open Resolved Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of Logistics Management, Office of Acquisitions Management, develop and implement procedures to verify that Contracting Officers are developing quality assurance surveillance plans for all service contracts and monitoring Contracting Officers Representatives adherence to the quality assurance surveillance plans.
Recommendation Number

5

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, develop and implement procedures detailing the required use of COR eFiling.
Recommendation Number

6

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, in coordination with Bureau of Administration, Office of the Procurement Executive, develop and implement procedures for Contracting Officer’s Representatives and Government Technical Monitors for (a) reviewing various types of invoices, (b) obtaining sufficient supporting documentation, (c) confirming that labor hours billed are supported by contractor timesheets and charged to the corresponding task order, and (d) verifying that expense reports are included and are supported by attached receipts.
Recommendation Number

7

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs develop and implement procedures to ensure that it complies with the Bureau of Administration, Office of the Procurement Executive’s guidance to nominate eligible Federal Acquisition Certification for Contracting Officer’s Representative candidates to the Contracting Officer (CO) for official designation as a Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), Alternate Contracting Officer’s Representative (A/COR), and Government Technical Monitor (GTM) and ensure that other COR, A/COR, or GTM candidates do not fulfill this role without the CO’s concurrence and written designation.
Recommendation Number

8

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of Logistics Management, Office of Acquisitions Management, develop and implement procedures to verify the formal designation and authorization of Contracting Officer’s Representatives (COR) and Alternate CORs or Government Technical Monitors as necessary for each task order in writing and that the designation memoranda are tailored, as necessary, to identify specific duties, responsibilities, and limitations for each contract or task order administered.
Recommendation Number

9

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of Logistics Management, Office of Acquisitions Management, require Contracting Officers to use the Contracting Officer's Representative Certification and Appointment Criteria Matrix in Volume 14 of the Foreign Affairs Handbook (FAH)-2 Exhibit H-143 to document their analyses of the training and experience of Contracting Officer’s Representative nominees and their decision of the appropriateness of the Federal Acquisition Certification for Contracting Officer’s Representative level needed for oversight of the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs task orders, as required by 14 FAH-2 H-143(b).
Recommendation Number

10

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, in coordination with the Bureau of Administration, Office of Logistics Management, Office of Acquisitions Management, develop and implement guidelines requiring supervisors of Contracting Officer’s Representatives (COR) and Government Technical Monitors (GTM) to obtain formal feedback from Contracting Officers regarding employee performance and incorporate this feedback into COR and GTM performance evaluations.
Recommendation Number

11

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs develop and implement standard operating procedures to require and verify that grant awards include appropriate and clearly defined performance indicators with all required components to measure the progress of a grant award in accordance with the Department of State’s Federal Assistance Directive.
Recommendation Number

12

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs develop and implement a process to verify that Grants Officer Representatives develop and use monitoring plans that include all required elements to conduct surveillance activities in accordance with the Department of State’s Federal Assistance Directive.
Recommendation Number

13

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs develop and implement a process to verify Grants Officer Representatives compliance with requirements to perform and document reviews of performance and financial reports within 30 days of receipt of reports, which is consistent with the Department of State’s Federal Assistance Directive.
Recommendation Number

14

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs develop and implement a process to require and verify that Grants Officer Representatives perform and document site visits for each grant recipient commensurate with the complexity and value of the grant and as outlined in the monitoring plan for the grant.
Recommendation Number

15

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, in coordination with the Bureau of Administration, Office of Logistics Management, Office of Acquisitions Management, develop and implement guidelines requiring supervisors of Grants Officer Representatives (GOR) to obtain formal feedback from Grants Officers regarding GOR performance and incorporate this feedback into GOR performance evaluations.
Recommendation Number

16

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of the Procurement Executive, conduct a management review of grants administered by the Bureau of Europe and Eurasian Affairs to examine and reinforce adherence to the Department of State’s Federal Assistance Directive.
Recommendation Number

17

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of Logistics Management, Office of Acquisitions Management, develop and implement procedures to verify that Grants Officers are monitoring Grants Officer Representatives oversight activities and reviewing grant files to verify completeness, retention, and accessibility of required documentation within the grant file in accordance with the Department of State’s Federal Assistance Directive.

Management Assistance Report: The Bureau of Diplomatic Security’s Office of Training and Performance Standards Should Improve Property Management Over Equipment Provided During High-Threat Training

AUD-SI-18-49 August 2018

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Training Directorate, Office of Training and Performance Standards, in coordination with the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Countermeasures Directorate, Office of Physical Security Programs, Defensive Equipment and Armored Vehicle Division, complete and implement an action plan to record accountable property contained in the high-threat kits that are on hand, along with any new kits delivered, into the Department’s Integrated Logistics Management System-Asset Management application, as required by Volume 14 of the Foreign Affairs Manual, Section 421.1(c), within 30 days after this Management Assistance Report has been issued.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Training Directorate, Office of Training and Performance Standards, perform a physical inventory of its accountable property, as required by Volume 14 of the Foreign Affairs Manual, Section 426, once an action plan for recording this property (Recommendation 1) has been completed.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Training Directorate, Office of Training and Performance Standards (TPS), in coordination with the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Countermeasures Directorate, Office of Physical Security Programs, Defensive Equipment and Armored Vehicle Division, complete its joint effort to develop and implement a process to manage accountable property in the high-threat kits in accordance with requirements in Volume 14 of the Foreign Affairs Manual, Sections 420 and 426, and the Property Accountability requirements in Section 5-25 of TPS’s Standard Operating Procedures. This process should (a) identify and record all accountable property in high-threat kits when the kits have been received and issued and returned and (b) provide steps for performing annual inventories.
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Training Directorate, Office of Training and Performance Standards, in coordination with the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Countermeasures Directorate, Office of Physical Security Programs, Defensive Equipment and Armored Vehicle Division, develop and implement an action plan to develop procedures that require property issued to employees for an extended period of time comply with charge out policies included in Volume 14 of the Foreign Affairs Manual, Section 425.3-4(c). At a minimum, these procedures should include recording data related to issuing the property (e.g., the date of issuance, the name and signature of the individual responsible for the property, and the item serial numbers, as appropriate) and factors related to performing periodic checks on location or condition of the property and on returning the equipment (e.g., the date of return and the condition of the property).
Recommendation Number

5

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Training Directorate, Office of Training and Performance Standards (TPS), develop and implement an action plan to identify and record accountable property previously purchased and charged out or issued to employees from October 2015 to the present. This plan should include a reconciliation of the items to the invoices of items purchased to ensure completeness and should detail how TPS will update the asset management systems with information on accountable property.

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