Recommendations

Audit of Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Counternarcotics Assistance to Afghanistan

AUD-MERO-15-02 November 2014

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs implement Performance Measurement Plans for all initiatives in Afghanistan that measure and manage program performance and communicate program results.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs analyze its counternarcotics spending patterns and prior expenditure rates and adjust its budget requests accordingly.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs comply with the U.S. Agency for International Development's 2011 Sustainability Guidance and conduct a review of its counternarcotics initiatives and work with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to develop sustainment plans for transitioning the counternarcotics initiatives to Afghan control that assure that they will be able to operate independent of U.S. support.
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs establish a process to ensure that the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan adheres to the reporting requirements in the Memorandum of Understanding.

Audit of the Contract Closeout Process for Contracts Supporting the U.S. Mission in Afghanistan

AUD-MERO-15-14 November 2014

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of the Procurement Executive, in consultation with the Bureau of Administration, Office of Logistics Management, Office of Acquisitions Management, develop and implement a requirement for contracting officers to maintain a “Contract Chronology” for each contract file. The “Contract Chronology” should include assignment of and changes in key contract personnel and key milestones through the life of the contract.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of the Procurement Executive, in consultation with the Bureau of Administration, Office of Logistics Management, Office of Acquisitions Management, require that departing contracting officers certify the completeness and accuracy of their contract files prior to their departure.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented $52,000,000 Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of Logistics Management, Office of Acquisitions Management, review task orders SAQMPD06FA079 and SAQMMA10F1570 and determine how much of the $52 million in unliquidated obligations can be deobligated.

Audit of the Bureaus of Near Eastern Affairs and South and Central Asian Affairs Compliance With Federal and Department Premium Class Air Travel Policies

AUD-MERO-15-16 November 2014

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented $13,270 Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services in coordination with the Joint Executive Office of the Bureaus of Near Eastern Affairs and South and Central Asian Affairs and the Bureau of Administration review and seek repayment of questioned travel costs for the five travel authorizations in which premium class air travel justifications were inappropriately applied and approved. OIG determined the total of these repayments could be as much as $13,270.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented $234,075 Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services in coordination with the Joint Executive Office of the Bureaus of Near Eastern Affairs and South and Central Asian Affairs and the Bureau of Administration review the 36 premium travel authorizations with missing, incomplete, and inaccurate documentation to determine whether the use of premium class air travel was appropriate, and to seek repayment of questioned costs for any travel determined to be inappropriate. OIG determined the total of these repayments could be as much as $234,075.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services review the 181 premium travel authorizations not reviewed for this audit to determine whether the use of premium class air travel was appropriate, seek repayment for any travel determined to be inappropriate and report the results of the review to OIG.
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration develop and implement procedures for ensuring data submitted for the annual Premium Class Travel Report to the General Services Administration completely and accurately reports on all instance of Department use of premium class air travel during the reporting year.
Recommendation Number

5

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration notify the General Services Administration that the Department of State Premium Class Travel Reports for FYs 2012 and 2013 were inaccurate, and re-file the FYs 2012 and 2013 submissions with complete and accurate information.

Audit of Bureau of Diplomatic Security Worldwide Protective Services Contract Task Order 10 Kabul Embassy Security Force

AUD-MERO-15-03 November 2014

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of Logistics Management, Office of Acquisitions Management, implement a quality control plan and a contract file audit plan, as required by Procurement Information Bulletin No. 2014-10, to ensure the contractor maintains all required documentation and can support all transactions made under Task Order 10, including training records of explosive detection dog handlers.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented $1,740,043 Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of Logistics Management, Office of Acquisitions Management, review the $1,726,155 in costs OIG identified as possibly unallowable and recover any funds deemed unallowable.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented $6,923,434 Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of Logistics Management, Office of Acquisitions Management, conduct a comprehensive review of all contractor invoices and supporting documentation to determine whether the contractor submitted adequate supporting documentation for all costs, including the $6,916,330 identified in this report. If the documentation was not submitted, the contracting officer should request supporting documentation from the contractor and determine whether the costs were allowable under the contract terms. If the reimbursable costs cannot be supported or are not allowable under the terms of the contract, these funds should be recovered.
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of Logistics Management, Office of Acquisition Management, establish detailed written procedures for in-depth review of invoices and supporting documentation required by the Worldwide Protective Services contract and ensure that the procedures are followed for all reviews of Task Order 10 invoices and supporting documentation.
Recommendation Number

5

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of Logistics Management, Office of Acquisitions Management, modify Task Order 10 to include the requirements of Procurement Information Bulletin No. 2012-10 and ensure that the contractor is in compliance with all Trafficking in Persons regulations.

Audit of the Department of State Implementation and Oversight of Active Directory

AUD-IT-15-05 October 2014

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
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Implemented Significant

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

5

Closed Implemented Significant

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

6

Closed Implemented Significant

Sensitive Information Redacted

Audit of the Department of State Information Security Program

AUD-IT-15-17 October 2014

Recommendation Number

1

Closed New Report Significant

OIG recommends that the Chief Information Officer, in coordination with the Information Security Steering Committee, implement a risk management framework strategy for the Department that is consistent with Federal Information Security Management Act requirements, Office of Management and Budget policy, and applicable National Institute of Standards and Technology guidelines.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented Significant

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented Significant

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Implemented Significant

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

5

Closed Implemented Significant

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

6

Closed Implemented Significant

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

7

Closed New Report Significant

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

8

Closed New Report Significant

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

9

Closed Implemented Significant

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

10

Closed Implemented Significant

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

11

Closed Implemented Significant

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

12

Open Resolved Significant

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

13

Closed Implemented Significant

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

14

Closed New Report Significant

OIG recommends the Bureau of Information Resource Management, Office of Information Assurance, in coordination with system owners (bureaus and posts), follow the Foreign Affairs Manual (12 FAM 620) to have the supervisor complete the appropriate system access forms (for example, new user access and elevated rights) prior to granting access.
Recommendation Number

15

Closed Implemented Significant

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

16

Closed Implemented Significant

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

17

Closed Implemented Significant

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

18

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Chief Information Officer, in coordination with the Information Security Steering Committee, exercise the authorities prescribed in the Foreign Affairs Manual (1 FAM 040 and 5 FAM 119) and direct bureaus and/or offices to prioritize resources to effectively implement and validate remediation actions prior to closing Plans of Action and Milestones.
Recommendation Number

19

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that system owners, in coordination with the Bureau of Information Resource Management, Office of Information Assurance, ensure that bureaus, offices, and posts adhere to completion dates for corrective actions and/or ensure that the remediation dates are updated, as needed. In addition, OIG recommends system owners implement processes and procedures to cross-reference Plans of Action and Milestones information, including costs, to the capital planning budget process with a Unique Investment Identifier.
Recommendation Number

20

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Information Resource Management, Office of Information Assurance (IRM/IA), consistently assess overall bureau risk and provide bureaus with Quarterly Plans of Action & Milestones Grade memoranda. In addition, OIG recommends that bureaus and/or offices provide written responses for the Quarterly Plans of Action & Milestones Grade memoranda to IRM/IA.
Recommendation Number

21

Closed New Report Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Information Resource Management, Office of Information Assurance (IRM/IA), define a time period for bureaus and/or offices to include identified deficiencies resulting from audits into the Plans of Action and Milestones (POA&M) database and communicate findings to IRM/IA in accordance with Office of Management and Budget Memorandum M-11-33.
Recommendation Number

22

Closed New Report Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Information Resource Management, Office of Information Assurance, in coordination with system owners, identify deficiencies resulting from the vulnerability scans performed by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Security Infrastructure Directorate, Office of Computer Security, and include those vulnerabilities that are not immediately remediated in the Plans of Action and Milestones database in accordance with Office of Management and Budget Memorandum M-11-33.
Recommendation Number

23

Closed Implemented

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

24

Closed Implemented

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

25

Closed Implemented

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

26

Closed Implemented

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

27

Closed Implemented

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

28

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Chief Information Officer, in coordination with the Bureau of Information Resource Management, Office of Information Assurance, and the Bureau of Diplomatic Security's Security Infrastructure Directorate, Office of Computer Security, finalize the Information Assurance Training Plan to ensure key information technology personnel with security responsibilities for the Department take specialized role-based security training as required by National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-53, Revision 4.
Recommendation Number

29

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Chief Information Officer, in coordination with the Bureau of Information Resource Management, Office of Information Assurance, and the Bureau of Diplomatic Security's Security Infrastructure Directorate, Office of Computer Security, implement a tracking mechanism for role-based training, in accordance with National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-53, Revision 4, to ensure that personnel with significant security responsibilities receive the appropriate training according to the Information Assurance Training Plan.
Recommendation Number

30

Closed New Report

OIG recommends that the Information System Steering Committee, in coordination with the Bureau of Information Resource Management, Office of Information Assurance, and the Bureau of Diplomatic Security's Security Infrastructure Directorate, Office of Computer Security, implement a general security awareness course, specific to users with only ClassNet access that do not have OpenNet access, to ensure that those personnel receive the appropriate general security awareness training in accordance with National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-53, Revision 4.
Recommendation Number

31

Closed Implemented

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

32

Closed Implemented

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

33

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Security Infrastructure Directorate, Office of Computer Security, update the Computer Incident Response Team Standard Operating Procedures to require the Computer Incident Response Team to notify the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Security Infrastructure Directorate, Office of Information Security, Program Applications Division, and the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team in the event of a potential data spillage prior to closing a security incident ticket.

Audit of the Broadcasting Board of Governors Information Security Program

AUD-IT-IB-15-13 October 2014

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Broadcasting Board of Governors perform a privacy impact assessment for its Office of Cuba Broadcasting Headquarters Network system, as required by National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-37, Revision 1.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Broadcasting Board of Governors perform a privacy impact assessment for its Privacy Information Enclave system, as required by National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-37, Revision 1.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Broadcasting Board of Governors update the Certification and Accreditation Policy and Procedures to identify the responsible organizations for conducting annual security control assessments.
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Broadcasting Board of Governors perform annual security control assessments on its Identity Management System.
Recommendation Number

5

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Director of Global Operations approve and implement a continuous monitoring policy that assesses the security state of information systems and is consistent with National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-53, Revision 4.
Recommendation Number

6

Closed Implemented Significant

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

7

Closed New Report Significant

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

8

Closed New Report Significant

OIG recommends that the Director of Global Operations update server and workstation baseline procedures to include all of the U.S. Government Configuration Baseline configuration settings as required by the National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-53, Revision 4.
Recommendation Number

9

Closed New Report Significant

OIG recommends that the Director of Global Operations remediate all critical vulnerabilities as they are identified through periodic scanning.
Recommendation Number

10

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Director of Global Operations enforce the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) Change Management Policy for all changes within the BBG environment.
Recommendation Number

11

Closed New Report Significant

OIG recommends that the Information Security Management Division update and implement the incident response policy and procedures to include preparation, detection and analysis, containment, eradication, recovery, and post-incident activity components as required by National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-61, Revision 2.
Recommendation Number

12

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Information Security Management Division adhere to the Computer Security Incident Management Policy, when finalized, to include the appropriate category level for every documented incident.
Recommendation Number

13

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Chief Information Security Officer, in coordination with the system owners and the Office of the Chief Information Officer, ensure that Broadcasting Board of Governors' Plans of Action and Milestones (POAM) include all required elements in accordance with the Information Security POAM Policy, to include severity of the weakness, responsible organization, estimated funding resources, completion date, key milestones and changes, source of the weakness, and the latest status.
Recommendation Number

14

Closed New Report Significant

OIG recommends that the Enterprise Networks and Storage Division implement procedures to assess the adequacy of the security configurations of remote computers that request access to the Broadcasting Board of Governors’ (BBG) network and grant access only to properly configured and patched devices, as required by BBG’s Virtual Private Network (VPN) policy and VPN Access Acceptance Form.
Recommendation Number

15

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Enterprise Networks and Storage Division ensure that multiple personnel are trained, and utilize that training, to disable Virtual Private Network tokens after they are reported lost or stolen in accordance with National Institute of Standards and Technology, Special Publication 800-53, Revision 4.
Recommendation Number

16

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Director of Global Operations and system owners ensure that user accounts are properly maintained in accordance with Broadcasting Board of Governors' Identification and Authentication Policy.
Recommendation Number

17

Closed New Report Significant

OIG recommends that the Director of Global Operations, in coordination with the Office of Security, complete the issuance of Personal Identity Verification cards as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 and Office of Management and Budget guidelines.
Recommendation Number

18

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Director of Global Operations finalize and implement a role-based security training policy, as required by the National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-53, Revision 4.

Audit of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Law Enforcement Reform Program in Pakistan

AUD-MERO-15-04 October 2014

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs obtain the cooperation of the Government of Pakistan to establish annual evaluations of the Pakistan Law Enforcement Reform Program and use those evaluations as a basis for future amendments to the Letter of Agreement, adjusting those objectives in a continuous process.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs develop inventories of equipment that police officers and police organizations require to provide the mobility, survivability, and communications capacities needed for effective law enforcement operations.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed New Report

OIG recommends that the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs review the Pakistan Law Enforcement Reform Program’s unfulfilled training, infrastructure and equipment performance measures; determine whether the measures can be met; and if so, establish new target dates for their completion.
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) amend the INL Financial Management Handbook to require a detailed justification for extending subobligation terminal dates.
Recommendation Number

5

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs negotiate future amendments to the Letter of Agreement that stipulate that the U.S. Government may reprogram funds if the funds are not subobligated before the subobligation terminal date.
Recommendation Number

6

Closed Implemented $86,222,833 Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs determine how much of the $86.2 million in prior year Pakistan Law Enforcement Reform Program obligations can be reprogrammed.
Recommendation Number

7

Closed Implemented $8,228,366 Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs establish and implement additional procedures to review open subobligations and deobligate any subobligations that cannot be demonstrated to be still valid.
Recommendation Number

8

Closed Implemented $208,358 Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs establish and implement procedures to monitor more effectively reimbursable advances quarterly and not provide any further advances on projects with outstanding advances until those advances have been reconciled.

Inspection of the Bureau of Information Resource Management, Strategic Planning Office

ISP-I-15-03 October 2014

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Information Resource Management, in coordination with the Bureau of Human Resources, should conduct a comprehensive review of the structure, management, and manpower needs of the Strategic Planning Office and submit the report to the Bureau of Information Resource Management.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Information Resource Management should develop comprehensive consultation, clearance, and implementation action plans for the Department of State Information Technology Strategic Plan and Bureau Functional Strategy.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Information Resource Management should develop a quarterly reporting program for bureau management review of the performance indicators in both the Functional Bureau Strategy and the Department of State Information Technology Strategic Plan.
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Acceptable Alternative

The Bureau of Information Resource Management should complete the eight proposed program evaluations, assess the results, and forward that material to the Bureau of Budget and Planning for review and comment.
Recommendation Number

5

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Information Resource Management should develop capital planning and investment control process guidance regarding in-house-developed information technology initiatives and investments, train responsible participants from bureaus and offices throughout the Department of State on this process, and establish verification procedures to facilitate compliance.
Recommendation Number

6

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Information Resource Management, in coordination with the Office of the Under Secretary for Management, should assess the objectives and operating procedures of the Electronic Government Program Board and Electronic Government Advisory Board and update and disseminate the charter accordingly.
Recommendation Number

7

Closed Acceptable Alternative

The Bureau of Information Resource Management should align the investment review process schedule with the Department of State’s budget cycle.
Recommendation Number

8

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Information Resource Management should issue a bureauwide administrative notice outlining the responsibilities and timelines for submitting the annual budget.
Recommendation Number

9

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Information Resource Management should assess and document training requirements for budget analysts in the Strategic Planning Office and provide such training.
Recommendation Number

10

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Information Resource Management should update its policy for monitoring unliquidated obligations to underscore division directors’ accountability in monthly unliquidated obligation reviews.
Recommendation Number

11

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Information Resource Management should fill the Working Capital Fund branch chief position in the Strategic Planning Office.
Recommendation Number

12

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Information Resource Management should sign and implement an operational-level agreement with each of the operational service centers in the Strategic Planning Office.
Recommendation Number

13

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Information Resource Management should establish a forum to make its cost models available to customers of the operational service centers in the Strategic Planning Office.
Recommendation Number

14

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Information Resource Management should establish a process for annually reviewing and adjusting, as needed, the user fees for the operational service centers in the Strategic Planning Office.
Recommendation Number

15

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Information Resource Management should update chapter 5 of the Foreign Affairs Manual to reflect the scope and utility of the integrated information technology portfolio management and asset tracking application.
Recommendation Number

16

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Information Resource Management should clarify the scope and use of the integrated information technology portfolio management and asset tracking application and implement the appropriate management controls for data accuracy and accountability.
Recommendation Number

17

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Information Resource Management should clearly define personnel roles and responsibilities for managing the Strategic Planning Office’s SharePoint environment.
Recommendation Number

18

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Information Resource Management should review and update the SharePoint security groups in the Strategic Planning Office.
Recommendation Number

19

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Information Resource Management should prescribe security duties for the unit security officers in the Strategic Planning Office.
Recommendation Number

20

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Information Resource Management should document and implement a management control evaluation and improvement process for the Strategic Planning Office.
Recommendation Number

21

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Information Resource Management should clarify the roles of property managers to facilitate the proper disposition of excess property in the Strategic Planning Office.

Inspection of the Bureau of Consular Affairs, Visa Services Directorate

ISP-I-15-01 October 2014

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Acceptable Alternative

The Bureau of Consular Affairs should implement in the Visa Services Directorate a policy planning process to identify and develop alternative policy and program approaches to emerging issues.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Consular Affairs, in coordination with the Bureau of Human Resources, should reorganize the Visa Services Directorate to align responsibilities with mission requirements, create an appropriate mix of staff and skills, and assign supervisors a manageable number of employees.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Consular Affairs should update all the position descriptions in the Visa Services Directorate to reflect current responsibilities.
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Consular Affairs, in coordination with the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, should develop and adhere to service standards for providing and analyzing information on human rights ineligibility cases, train subject matter experts, and report any impediments to fulfilling its obligations to the Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights and the Under Secretary for Management.
Recommendation Number

5

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Consular Affairs should establish a system to create, maintain, and consult records of the opinions it renders in its Visa Services Directorate, Advisory Opinions Division.
Recommendation Number

6

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Consular Affairs should revise its plan to transfer nonimmigrant visa public inquiries from the Visa Services Directorate in Washington to the National Visa Center and assign a resident subject matter expert to the National Visa Center as a resource for the telephone and written inquiries units.
Recommendation Number

7

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Consular Affairs, in coordination with the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, should complete a memorandum of understanding governing visa operations at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations.
Recommendation Number

8

Closed Implemented

The U.S. Mission to the United Nations, in coordination with the Bureau of Consular Affairs, should adopt and publish a visa referral policy.
Recommendation Number

9

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Consular Affairs should clear with all bureau stakeholders new standard operating procedures for evaluating exchange visitor foreign residence requirement waivers.
Recommendation Number

10

Closed Acceptable Alternative

The Bureau of Consular Affairs should include contract monitoring responsibilities in the work requirements of government technical monitors, as well as in all new employee orientation materials, and publish the orientation materials on its intranet site.
Recommendation Number

11

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Consular Affairs should designate one or more employees to represent the needs of the Kentucky Consular Center and National Visa Center to all bureauwide systems liaison, systems review, and new systems planning meetings.
Recommendation Number

12

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Consular Affairs should establish scheduled systems outage periods for maintenance of consular systems and post the schedule on the Office of Consular Systems and Technology Web site.
Recommendation Number

13

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Consular Affairs should replace the local file servers, print server, independent name check system servers, and associated parser at the Kentucky Consular Center.
Recommendation Number

14

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Information Resource Management, in coordination with the Bureau of Consular Affairs, should provide classified storage space or hardware to store the Coordination Division’s classified electronic visa files.
Recommendation Number

15

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Consular Affairs should establish and implement a process to approve all software through its systems development life cycle process and the Department’s Information Technology Configuration Control Board process.

452

$15,045,004

137

$0

423

$190,873,822

0

$0

36

$0

0

$0