Recommendations

Department of State

452

Open Unclassified Recommendations¹

137

Open Sensitive But Unclassified Recommendations²

423

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

Management Assistance Report: Mandatory Disclosure Language in Department of State Grants and Assistance Agreements

INV-15-02 December 2015

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends the Department include the complete citation for 2 CFR 200.113, Mandatory Disclosure, in its Standard Terms and Conditions, and specifically cite 2 CFR 200.113 in all grants, cooperative agreements, and other Federal assistance awards.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends the Department insert the following language in the Department’s Standard Terms and Conditions for grants, cooperative agreements, and other Federal assistance awards: Consistent with 2 CFR §200.113, applicants and recipients must disclose, in a timely manner, in writing to the Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the Department of State and the Broadcasting Board of Governors, with a copy to the cognizant Grants Officer, all violations of Federal criminal law involving fraud, bribery, or illegal gratuities potentially affecting the Federal award. Sub-recipients must disclose, in a timely manner, in writing to the OIG and to the prime recipient (pass-through entity) all violations of Federal criminal law involving fraud, bribery, or illegal gratuities potentially affecting the Federal award. Failure to make required disclosures can result in any of the remedies described in §200.338, Remedies for noncompliance, including suspension or debarment. Disclosures must be sent to: U.S. Department of
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends the Department amend all active grants, cooperative agreements, and other Federal assistance awards to include the Department’s revised Standard Terms and Conditions.

(U) Management Assistance Report: Progress Made But Action Still Needed to Address Physical Security Deficiencies Reported in FYs 2012 and 2013

AUD-ACF-16-06 November 2015

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Under Secretary for Management provide a report to OIG within 60 days of report issuance on the status of corrective actions and the reasons for delays in completing corrective actions on the nine open recommendations listed in Appendix C.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Under Secretary for Management provide a plan of action to complete corrective actions, including appropriate milestones, to address the remaining nine open recommendations listed in Appendix C.

Management Assistance Report: Improper Use of Overtime and Incentive Fees Under the Department of State Baghdad Life Support Services (BLiSS) Contract

AUD-MERO-16-08 November 2015

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of Logistics Management, Office of Acquisitions Management, terminate task order SAQMMA15F3018 awarded to Pacific Architects and Engineering Government Services, Inc., for incentive pay.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented $2,642,451 Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of Logistics Management, Office of Acquisitions Management, deobligate all remaining unspent funds awarded against task orders SAQMMA14F2036, SAQMMA14F3785, SAQMMA15F0988, and SAQMMA15F3018, and inform Pacific Architects and Engineering Government Services, Inc., that expenses can no longer be incurred against these task orders.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of Logistics Management, Office of Acquisitions Management, inform contracting officers and other contract management personnel that award and administer contracts in countries with high risk security environments to discontinue the practice of awarding overtime and incentive fees for firm-fixed-price labor contract line items unless such awards include a documented analysis of the validated need, cost-benefit, and merits in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation.
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of Logistics Management, Office of Acquisitions Management, review contracts performed in Iraq and other countries with high-risk security environments and, if the awards cannot be justified with a documented analysis of the validated need, cost-benefit, and merits of such an award in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation, consider terminating task orders, deobligating all remaining unspent funds, and informing contractors that expenses cannot be incurred against these task orders.

Management Assistance Report: Funds Supporting a Cooperative Agreement to Southern Methodist University at Risk of Waste

AUD-MERO-16-19 November 2015

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA) review the intended objectives of the cooperative agreement awarded to Southern Methodist University (SMU) and determine whether the objectives can be fulfilled in the time remaining or whether a no-cost extension is warranted considering past performance. If SCA determines that the performance period of the cooperative agreement should not be extended, the cooperative agreement should be terminated and the remaining funds should be recovered.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented $300,000 Significant

If the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA) decides to extend the performance period of the cooperative agreement with Southern Methodist University, OIG recommends that SCA review the expenditures associated with the cooperative agreement and the corresponding performance of Southern Methodist University (SMU) and the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University (SBBWU) to ensure that appropriate controls are in place to protect U.S. taxpayer funds.

(U) Audit of the Broadcasting Board of Governors Information Security Program

AUD-IT-IB-16-17 November 2015

Recommendation Number

1

Closed New Report Significant

OIG recommends that the Chief Information Officer develop a strategy to realign information technology resources to balance operational needs with the need for an effective information security risk management strategy.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed New Report Significant

OIG recommends that the Chief Information Officer develop and implement an organization-wide information risk management strategy to identify, assess, respond to, and monitor information security risk at all levels of the organization in accordance with National Institute of Standards and Technology Publication 800-39. Specifically, the risk management strategy should align risk management decisions with business functions and objectives, which includes processes that respond to and monitor risk to operations and assets as well as performance-based outcomes by measuring, monitoring, and reporting risk management metrics to ensure that Broadcasting Board of Governors objectives are met.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented Significant

Sensitive Information Redacted

(U) Audit of the Department of State Information Security Program

AUD-IT-16-16 November 2015

Recommendation Number

1

Closed New Report Significant

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources review the organizational placement of the Chief Information Officer (CIO), with respect to the Clinger-Cohen Act and Office of Management and Budget Memorandum M-11-29 and make a determination as to whether the CIO should be realigned within the Department of State's (Department) organizational structure to carry out the CIO's lead role in managing information security for the Department.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed New Report Significant

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

4

Closed New Report Significant

Sensitive Information Redacted

Management Assistance Report: U.S. Embassy Mexico City Cashier Operations

INV-15-01 November 2015

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that U.S. Embassy Mexico City conduct reconciliations and unannounced verification of funds on a monthly basis, as required by 4 FAH-3 H-397 1.2(a) and (b).
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that U.S. Embassy Mexico City’s Financial Management Center review internal controls for the fiscal irregularities identified and improve oversight procedures by conducting additional reviews of cashier operations. U.S. Embassy Mexico City needs to independently verify that its Financial Management Center performs its required monthly reviews and closeouts of cashier accounts, pursuant to 4 FAH-3 H-393.3-3.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that U.S. Embassy Mexico City require all principal and alternate cashiers to complete the Department of State Global Financial Services Center’s basic cashier training course, as required by 4 FAH-3 H-393.1-1.
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends U.S. Embassy Mexico City take immediate action to cease co-mingling of cashier accounts and the sharing of passwords and safe combinations. U.S. Embassy Mexico City needs to implement enhanced internal controls of financial transactions and improved security procedures to prevent these issues from recurring.
Recommendation Number

5

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends U.S. Embassy Mexico hire an external forensic auditor to conduct an audit of the MXA and MXB accounts to account for the $49,364.38 in missing funds.

(U) Audit of International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico, U.S. Section, Information Security Program

AUD-IT-16-07 November 2015

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented Significant

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented Significant

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented Significant

Sensitive Information Redacted

Inspection of the Bureau of Information Resource Management, Operations, Vendor Management Office

ISP-I-16-03 October 2015

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Information Resource Management, in coordination with the Bureau of Administration, should complete the 1 Foreign Affairs Manual directives on the roles and responsibilities of the Bureau of Information Resource Management, Operations, Vendor Management Office.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Administration, in coordination with the Bureau of Information Resource Management, should delegate the Bureau of Information Resource Management, Operations, Vendor Management Office as a contract administration office and specify the contract administration duties that the office should perform.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Administration, in coordination with the Bureau of Information Resource Management, should require that Vanguard contracting officer’s representatives and government technical monitors validate all performance metrics.
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Information Resource Management, in coordination with the Bureau of Administration, should update quality assurance surveillance plans for Vanguard contracts in accordance with the Bureau of Information Resource Management, Operations, Vendor Management Office policy.
Recommendation Number

5

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Information Resource Management should conduct a cost-benefit analysis to determine whether it should continue to use its current performance metric database system or develop and implement a new structured language query database management system to meet the office’s requirements and implement the result.
Recommendation Number

6

Closed Acceptable Alternative

The Bureau of Information Resource Management should require the use of a Bureau of Information Resource Management-wide project/portfolio management system and incorporate it into the Foreign Affairs Manual.

Inspection of the Bureau of International Organization Affairs

ISP-I-16-02 October 2015

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of International Organization Affairs should further revise its tasking process and disseminate details to all bureau personnel.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented $1,463,800

The Bureau of International Organization Affairs, in coordination with the Bureau of Human Resources, should eliminate the Office of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and reprogram the function and appropriate staff needed to support the work into another office.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of International Organization Affairs, in coordination with the Bureau of Human Resources, should conduct an organizational assessment to match Office of Peace Operations, Sanctions, and Counterterrorism staffing to workload and review the impact of any staffing adjustments on the rest of the bureau.
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of International Organization Affairs should clarify and disseminate the mission of the Office of Regional Policy and Coordination within the Department of State and revise the Foreign Affairs Manual, if needed, accordingly.
Recommendation Number

5

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of International Organization Affairs should transfer responsibility for managing the account for assessed contributions to international peacekeeping activities to the Office of Management Policy and Resources.
Recommendation Number

6

Closed Acceptable Alternative

The Bureau of International Organization Affairs should reassign the American Citizen Employment unit to the Office of Public Affairs, Planning, and Coordination.
Recommendation Number

7

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of International Organization Affairs should conduct comprehensive evaluations of foreign assistance voluntary contributions paid to international organizations.
Recommendation Number

8

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of International Organization Affairs, in coordination with the Bureau of Administration, should establish and disseminate records management guidelines outlining standards for maintaining paper and electronic files and records, including guidance on reviewing the records systems and the application of disposition schedules.
Recommendation Number

9

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of International Organization Affairs should seek and implement guidance from the Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services on how to assess internal controls over all its domestic programs for its annual Management Control Statement of Assurance.
Recommendation Number

10

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of International Organization Affairs should complete all remaining performance plans and midyear reviews, performance appraisals, and performance plans for its Civil Service employees as well as employee evaluations for Foreign Service employees, in accordance with Department of State guidance.
Recommendation Number

11

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of International Organization Affairs should enforce the attendance and completion of the Department of State's mandatory training.
Recommendation Number

12

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of International Organization Affairs should enforce required approving procedures for purchase card transactions.
Recommendation Number

13

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of International Organization Affairs should establish separation of duties for the domestic representation account.
Recommendation Number

14

Closed Acceptable Alternative

The Bureau of International Organization Affairs should complete the assessment and authorization process for its finance application.
Recommendation Number

15

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of International Organization Affairs should maintain, as required, system maintenance logs for all its information technology systems.
Recommendation Number

16

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of International Organization Affairs should disseminate the results of monthly information technology project priority meetings to the bureau’s office directors.

7478 recommendations in total

Last Updated: June 13th, 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

452

$15,045,004

137

$0

423

$190,873,822

0

$0

36

$0

0

$0