Recommendations

Department of State

424

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

Inspection of Embassy Buenos Aires, Argentina

ISP-I-13-15A February 2013

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented

Embassy Buenos Aires should implement a structured first- and secondtour officer professional development and mentoring program for the Ambassador’s approval that assigns a senior officer to serve as a mentor and advisor to the group and includes scheduled presentations to the group by embassy section chiefs and others on substantive and career development issues.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented

Embassy Buenos Aires, in coordination with the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs and the Bureau of Human Resources, should reprogram permanently the mid-level environment, science, technology, and health position currently detailed from the economic section.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented

Embassy Buenos Aires should designate alternate space for the Federal benefits unit that is appropriate in size and configuration and as close to the consular section as possible, coordinate an appropriate office design with the Social Security Administration regional representative at Embassy San José, and relocate the Federal benefits unit.
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Implemented

Embassy Buenos Aires should assign supervision of the fraud prevention unit and the assistant regional security officer-investigator to the chief of the consular section.
Recommendation Number

5

Closed Implemented

Embassy Buenos Aires should review and update the position descriptions of the locally employed staff in the American citizens services unit and reclassify the positions if appropriate.
Recommendation Number

6

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Human Resources, in coordination the Bureau of Administration, should review and update the Foreign Affair Manual and Foreign Affairs Handbook provisions related to economic conditions and local compensation plans.
Recommendation Number

7

Closed Not Implemented

The Bureau of Human Resources should revise its current policy on making salary adjustments and follow Argentine prevailing practice by conducting two salary surveys per year during periods of high inflation.
Recommendation Number

8

Closed Implemented

Embassy Buenos Aires, in coordination with the Bureau of Human Resources, should review its life insurance and supplemental retirement policies and contracts every 5 years to ensure they comply with prevailing practice and local labor law requirements and meet the needs of the locally employed staff.
Recommendation Number

9

Closed Implemented

Embassy Buenos Aires, in coordination with the Bureau of Human Resources, should update its locally employed staff handbook to reflect current conditions of employment, ethical standards, and disciplinary processes, including terminations.
Recommendation Number

10

Closed Implemented

Embassy Buenos Aires should include a work requirement for all supervisors to complete performance evaluations on time and should rate the supervisors accordingly.
Recommendation Number

11

Closed Implemented

Embassy Buenos Aires should train the second Equal Employment Opportunity counselor.
Recommendation Number

12

Closed Implemented

Embassy Buenos Aires should recruit, appoint, and train locally employed Equal Employment Opportunity liaisons using materials from the Office of Civil Rights Web site.
Recommendation Number

13

Closed Implemented

Embassy Buenos Aires should create an Equal Employment Opportunity and Federal Women’s Program section on its SharePoint site that includes policies and procedures in English and Spanish and issue an administrative notice in English and Spanish to its employees with the same information.
Recommendation Number

14

Closed Implemented

Embassy Buenos Aires should regularly publish a schedule for Equal Employment Opportunity activities, including townhall meetings, diversity training, and newcomer orientation. The Equal Employment Opportunity counselors and the human resources officer should develop the schedule for deputy chief of mission approval.
Recommendation Number

15

Closed Implemented

Embassy Buenos Aires should conduct a formal cost-benefit analysis of outsourcing a portion of its voucher processing to the Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services Post Support Unit and select the appropriate low cost option.
Recommendation Number

16

Closed Implemented

Embassy Buenos Aires should determine the most efficient procedures for processing vouchers by studying the practice of other embassies or by conducting a site visit and should revise its voucher processing procedures to reflect those findings.
Recommendation Number

17

Closed Implemented

Embassy Buenos Aires should establish a housing coordinator position to manage the housing program.
Recommendation Number

18

Closed Acceptable Alternative

The Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations should fund a suitable warehouse for Embassy Buenos Aires and provide the embassy with a relevant funding timeline.
Recommendation Number

19

Closed Implemented

The Office of Foreign Missions, in coordination with Embassy Buenos Aires, should remedy reciprocity inequities between the Argentine Embassy and Embassy Buenos Aires concerning the importation, exportation, sales, and transfer procedures related to private and government-owned vehicles and household effects.
Recommendation Number

20

Closed Implemented

Embassy Buenos Aires should update its housing policy and guidelines and include the roles and responsibilities of the general services office, facility maintenance unit, landlords for government-owned properties, and short-term leases in the revisions.
Recommendation Number

21

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, in coordination with Embassy Buenos Aires, should consolidate the three heating, ventilation, and air conditioning requirements into one renovation project.
Recommendation Number

22

Closed Implemented

Embassy Buenos Aires, in coordination with the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, should request priority funding to rehabilitate the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning at the chancery.
Recommendation Number

23

Closed Implemented

Embassy Buenos Aires should replace the missing covers on all electrical boxes.
Recommendation Number

24

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, in coordination with Embassy Buenos Aires, should conduct a survey of all chancery office space and develop a plan for unused and underused space for new purposes and to accommodate future growth.
Recommendation Number

25

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, in coordination with Embassy Buenos Aires, should schedule a visit to Embassy Buenos Aires to conduct an assessment of all excess and underutilized U.S. Government-owned properties and implement a plan to reuse, renovate, or dispose of these properties.
Recommendation Number

26

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Human Resources, in coordination with Embassy Buenos Aires and the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, should reclassify position number 55152000 from FP-04 specialist to FP-03 information systems officer.
Recommendation Number

27

Closed Implemented

Embassy Buenos Aires, in coordination with the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, should redesignate the language designation for the positions numbered 50259000 and 55164000 from Spanish 2/2 to 0/0 (language preferred).
Recommendation Number

28

Closed Acceptable Alternative

Embassy Buenos Aires should convert position number A54801 to a help desk coordinator.
Recommendation Number

29

Closed Implemented

Embassy Buenos Aires should establish a diplomatic mail policy for usage of the Diplomatic Post Office.
Recommendation Number

30

Closed Implemented

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

31

Closed Implemented

Embassy Buenos Aires should issue a management notice on use of the State Messaging and Archive Retrieval Toolset to archive official email and should require section heads to hold staff accountable for compliance with Department of State requirements.
Recommendation Number

32

Closed Implemented

Embassy Buenos Aires should not renew the current radio technician contract and hire another radio technician.
Recommendation Number

33

Closed Implemented

Embassy Buenos Aires should update the deputy chief of mission’s password for consular adjudications, retrain him on adjudication review procedures, and alert him when the consular section chief has adjudicated referral or other visa cases that he must review.
Recommendation Number

34

Closed Implemented

Embassy Buenos Aires should designate a gifts officer and issue a policy on procedures for the solicitation and acceptance of different types of gifts.

Inspection of Regional Information Management Centers

ISP-I-13-14 February 2013

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Acceptable Alternative $18,300,000

The Bureau of Information Resource Management, in coordination with the Office of Management Policy, Rightsizing, and Innovation, and the Bureaus of European and Eurasian Affairs, East Asian and Pacific Affairs, African Affairs, Near Eastern Affairs, South and Central Asian Affairs, and Western Hemisphere Affairs, should implement by January 2015 a plan that reduces the current Regional Information Management Centers’ overseas presence by 80 percent and that maintains those overseas positions that are necessary to provide timesensitive, immediate-response services.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Acceptable Alternative

The Bureau of Information Resource Management should define and prioritize the Regional Information Management Centers’ overseas and U.S.-based services, limiting those performed from overseas support platforms to repair and crisis-response support and making the stateside operation responsible for all other services such as surveys, installations, equipment upgrades, preventive maintenance, and help desk support.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Information Resource Management, in coordination with the Bureaus of European and Eurasian Affairs, East Asian and Pacific Affairs, African Affairs, Near Eastern Affairs, South and Central Asian Affairs, and Western Hemisphere Affairs, should define the roles and responsibilities of the Regional Information Management Centers during crisis events and put appropriate emergency action plans into place.
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Acceptable Alternative

The Bureau of Information Resource Management, in coordination with the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, should direct the Frankfurt Regional Information Management Center to cease management of the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs information management rover program.
Recommendation Number

5

Closed Not Implemented

The Bureau of Information Resource Management, in coordination with the Foreign Service Institute, should cease managing the Information Technology Training Centers through the Regional Information Management Centers and cease assigning information management specialists to instructor positions at the Regional Information Management Centers.
Recommendation Number

6

Closed Acceptable Alternative

The Bureau of Information Resource Management, in coordination with the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, should cease the Frankfurt Regional Information Management Center’s management of the hard-drive destruction program.
Recommendation Number

7

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Human Resources, in coordination with the Bureau of Information Resource Management, should authorize managers assigned to the Regional Information Management Center in Ft. Lauderdale 3–5 days of consultations in Washington en route to the Ft. Lauderdale office.
Recommendation Number

8

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Information Resource Management, in coordination with the Foreign Service Institute, should implement a formalized career-span training continuum with demonstrable proficiency standards for information management technology specialist staff.
Recommendation Number

9

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Information Resource Management should implement service-level agreements between its program offices and the Regional Information Management Centers that outline roles and responsibilities, including expected services, staffing requirements, and performance metrics.
Recommendation Number

10

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Information Resource Management should implement property accountability processes and procedures that comply with Department of State regulations regarding program property.
Recommendation Number

11

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Information Resource Management, in coordination with the Bureau of Administration, should implement standard procedures to reconcile items in transit to and from the Regional Information Management Centers.
Recommendation Number

12

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Information Resource Management should implement a quality management system that governs and documents the travel and job assignments of personnel in the Regional Information Management Centers.
Recommendation Number

13

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Information Resource Management should establish a single centralized knowledge management and collaboration platform for the Regional Information Management Centers.
Recommendation Number

14

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Information Resource Management should update the Service Request Management Remedy software to include the Regional Information Management Centers’ services and train staff at the Information Technology Service Centers and Regional Information Management Centers on use of the software.
Recommendation Number

15

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Information Resource Management should institute a policy for the Regional Information Management Centers to use the Department of State’s Service Request Management Remedy Software to document and track service requests.

Audit of U.S. Department of State Use of Short-Term Leases Overseas

AUD-HCI-13-02 December 2012

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations revise volumes 15 of the Foreign Affairs Manual and Foreign Affairs Handbook to designate all noncapital leases as operating leases, regardless of lease duration, in accordance with Statements of Federal Financial Accounting Standards.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations revise volumes 15 of the Foreign Affairs Manual and the Foreign Affairs Handbook to apply current funding and cost sharing requirements associated with short-term leases to all operating leases.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services, in coordination with the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, revise volumes 4 of the Foreign Affairs Manual and the Foreign Affairs Handbook to account for the revisions in volume 15 of the Foreign Affairs Manual regarding leases.
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services, Office of International and Cooperative Administrative Support Services, in coordination with the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, revise volume 6 of the Foreign Affairs Handbook to account for the revisions in volume 15 of the Foreign Affairs Manual regarding leases.
Recommendation Number

5

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, in coordination with the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, revise volumes 12 of the Foreign Affairs Manual and the Foreign Affairs Handbook to account for the revisions in volume 15 of the Foreign Affairs Manual regarding leases.
Recommendation Number

6

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations establish guidelines and procedures that require posts to track and report on make-ready funds expended for individual properties to help ensure funds are expended for authorized purposes and do not exceed the Department of State limitation.

Audit of Department of State Access Controls for Major Applications

AUD-IT-12-44 September 2012

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Chief Information Officer acquire the technical resources and implement the enhancements identified by the Net-Centric Diplomacy (NCD) team in NCD.09.00.00 Plan of Action, dated February 12, 2012, to ensure that users do not have broader access to cables than what is required to perform their duties.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed New Report

OIG recommends that the Chief Information Officer establish standard training requirements for post Classified State Messaging and Archive Retrieval Toolset (SMART-C) and ensure that system administrators receive required training before they are assigned and annually thereafter.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Chief Information Officer implement logical access controls to ensure that system administrators do not have the ability to read information within sensitive cables that they do not need to perform their administrative duties.
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Chief Information Officer equip the Net-Centric Diplomacy (NCD) and Classified State Messaging and Archive Retrieval Toolset (SMART-C) applications with audit trail capabilities to log user and administrator activity.
Recommendation Number

5

Closed Implemented Significant

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

6

Closed New Report Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Human Resources institute a formal process to notify system owners on a monthly basis of employee departures to ensure the timely removal of accounts of departing or transferring employees.
Recommendation Number

7

Closed New Report Significant

OIG recommends that the Chief Information Officer (CIO) require system owners to annually revalidate user and administrator accounts, remove those accounts that no longer require access, and certify to the CIO that revalidation has been completed.
Recommendation Number

8

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Consular Affairs (CA), Office of Consular Systems and Technology, provide additional guidance to key users of CA's applications at post to ensure that consular managers and other key users of those applications understand administrative features related to creating and managing user accounts for consular applications.
Recommendation Number

9

Closed New Report Significant

OIG recommends that the Chief Information Officer institute a formal process to require system owners to certify that the Information Systems Security Officer has reviewed audit logs monthly in order to detect and resolve potential security incidents in a timely manner.
Recommendation Number

10

Closed New Report Significant

Sensitive Information Redacted

Compliance Followup Review of Department of State Actions To Reduce the Risk of Trafficking in Persons Violations in Four States in the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf

AUD-MERO-12-47 September 2012

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that Embassy Abu Dhabi establish and implement a monitoring process for service contracts to ensure compliance with host-country labor laws and contractor-provided housing plans.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that Embassy Abu Dhabi establish a process to ensure that statements of work for service contracts include requirements that contractors should provide detailed descriptions of housing accommodations for foreign workers; provide workers with standard contracts in English and workers’ native languages that include policies on wages, overtime rates, allowances, salary increases, the contract term, leave accrual, and other personnel matters; provide workers with written information, in workers’ native languages, on relevant United Arab Emirates labor laws; and provide workers with written information, in workers’ native languages, about the U.S. Government’s zero tolerance policy toward trafficking in persons.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that Embassy Kuwait City establish and implement a monitoring process for service contracts to ensure that contractors comply with host country labor laws and contractor-provided housing plans.
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that Embassy Kuwait City establish a process to ensure that statements of work for service contracts include requirements that contractors should provide detailed descriptions of housing accommodations for foreign workers and provide workers with written information, in workers' native languages, on relevant Kuwaiti labor laws.
Recommendation Number

5

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that Embassy Muscat establish and implement a monitoring process for service contracts to ensure that contractors comply with host country labor laws and contractor-provided housing plans.
Recommendation Number

6

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that Embassy Muscat establish a process to ensure that statements of work for service contracts include requirements that contractors should provide detailed descriptions of housing accommodations for foreign workers; provide workers with standard contracts in English and workers' native languages that include policies on wages, overtime rates, allowances, salary increases, the contract terms, leave accrual, and other personnel matters; provide workers with written information, in workers' native languages, on relevant Omani labor laws; and provide workers with written information, in workers' native languages, about the U.S. Government's zero tolerance policy toward trafficking in persons.
Recommendation Number

7

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that Embassy Riyadh establish and implement a monitoring process for service contracts to ensure that contractors comply with host country labor laws and contractor-provided housing plans.
Recommendation Number

8

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that Embassy Riyadh establish a process to ensure that statements of work for service contracts include requirements that contractors should provide detailed descriptions of housing accommodations for foreign workers; provide workers with standard contracts in English and workers' native languages that include policies on wages, overtime rates, allowances, salary increases, the contract terms, leave accrual, and other personnel matters; provide workers with written information, in workers' native languages, on relevant Saudi Arabia labor laws; and provide workers with written information, in workers' native languages, about the U.S. Government's zero tolerance policy toward trafficking in persons.
Recommendation Number

9

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that Embassy Riyadh inform the janitorial contractor in Dhahran that keeping workers in unsafe housing is unacceptable to the U.S. Government.
Recommendation Number

10

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of the Procurement Executive, clarify guidance on passport retention found in Procurement Information Bulletin 2012-10, "Contractor Recruitment of Third Country Nationals," to ensure that Department of State contracts do not authorize a contractor to engage in a practice that is otherwise illegal in a given country.
Recommendation Number

11

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of the Procurement Executive, revise Procurement Information Bulletin 2011-09, "Combating Trafficking in Persons," to make the guidance mandatory so that contracting officer's representatives are required to implement the monitoring strategy as stated in the Procurement Information Bulletin.

Evaluation of Invoices and Payments for the Embassy Baghdad Operations and Maintenance Contract

AUD-MERO-12-43 August 2012

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented $2,735,844 Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of Logistics Management, Office of Acquisitions Management, direct the contracting officer to conduct a comprehensive review of all contractor invoices before the Embassy Baghdad operations and maintenance contract is closed to ensure that all unallowable transportation costs, including the approximately $2.7 million identified in this report, are recovered from the contractor.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of Logistics Management, Office of Acquisitions Management, direct the contracting officer to conduct a comprehensive review of all contractor invoices before the Embassy Baghdad operations and maintenance contract is closed to determine whether all goods paid for were in fact delivered. If the goods were paid for, all such payments for undelivered goods should be recovered from the contractor, including the approximately $34,000 identified in this report.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented $1,676,482 Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of Logistics Management, Office of Acquisitions Management, direct the contracting officer to conduct a comprehensive review of all contractor invoices before the Embassy Baghdad operations and maintenance contract is closed to determine whether the contractor submitted adequate supporting documentation for all reimbursable costs, to include the $1.7 million identified in this report. If not, 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, the costs should be recovered from the contractor.
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of Logistics Management, Office of Acquisitions Management, institute a mechanism to ensure that the contracting officer's representatives follow all appropriate Federal and Department of State guidance for approving and certifying the payment of invoices.
Recommendation Number

5

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Administration, Office of Logistics Management, Office of Acquisitions Management, undertake a review and, if warranted, take appropriate administrative actions against the contracting officer's representatives who did not follow Department of State guidance concerning the contractor invoice certification and approval process.

Inspection of Embassy Nairobi, Kenya

ISP-I-12-38A August 2012

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi, in coordination with the Bureau of African Affairs, should determine the status of the mission essential task exercise relative to the Departmentmandated Mission Resource Request.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should implement a system for the daily screening of classified front channel messages, including action items and messages of relevance to Kenyan and U.S. interests in the region, and provide these to the Ambassador.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi, in coordination with the Somalia Unit and the Bureau of African Affairs, should convene a working group on Kenyan engagement and interests in Somalia that would include representatives of the Somalia Unit and appropriate elements of Embassy Nairobi, including the Defense attaché office, and would focus on enhancing collaborative activities between the two missions.
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi, in coordination with the Bureau of African Affairs, should consult with Washington agencies to develop a political reporting plan that contains specific reports, deadlines, and individual staff responsibilities.
Recommendation Number

5

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should, in coordination with the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, implement Leahy vetting procedures that meet the Department’s requirements.
Recommendation Number

6

Closed Implemented $157,628

The Bureau of Human Resources, in coordination with Embassy Nairobi, should eliminate the Kiswahili language requirement for the political-military officer position.
Recommendation Number

7

Closed Acceptable Alternative

The Bureau of Human Resources, in coordination with the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, the Bureau of African Affairs, and Embassy Nairobi, should reclassify the labor officer position as an economic-labor officer position without the regional designation.
Recommendation Number

8

Closed Acceptable Alternative

Embassy Nairobi, in coordination with the Somalia Unit, should seek the necessary approvals from the Bureaus of Human Resources, International Organization Affairs, and African Affairs, for the next officer assigned to position 92-001552 to rotate into the Somalia Unit during his or her assignment.
Recommendation Number

9

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should request that the Government of Kenya furnish transparent and complete reporting of its financial support for the country’s national HIV/AIDS response programs.
Recommendation Number

10

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should report annually to the Department of State on the Government of Kenya’s financial performance against commitments set down in the partnership framework implementation plan.
Recommendation Number

11

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi, in coordination with the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Office of the Executive Director for the Global Health Initiative, should clarify the status of the Let’s Live campaign, including its relation to the Global Health Initiative, and issue programming guidance to staff with the necessary interagency approvals.
Recommendation Number

12

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should institute regular meetings of sections and agencies conducting assistance activities to discuss communications strategy and ways to highlight U.S. activities in Kenya.
Recommendation Number

13

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should implement a strategy to integrate the Ambassador more closely into public diplomacy activities to promote U.S. policy and publicize U.S. assistance.
Recommendation Number

14

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should implement a social media strategy that focuses its efforts on a more limited number of sites that the embassy has a capacity to update and maintain.
Recommendation Number

15

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should register all of its social media sites in the Information Technology Asset Baseline and include terms of use on the sites.
Recommendation Number

16

Closed Implemented $78,662

The Bureau of Human Resources, in coordination with the Bureau of International Information Programs and Embassy Nairobi, should eliminate the 2/2 French language designation for the regional information resource officer position in Nairobi.
Recommendation Number

17

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should close out the open grants to the previous educational advising center.
Recommendation Number

18

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should implement a plan to enable prospective students to access the advising center.
Recommendation Number

19

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi, in coordination with the Somalia Unit and the Bureau of African Affairs, should implement a formal and practical arrangement for the Somalia Unit and Embassy Nairobi to conduct public diplomacy activities aimed at Somalia refugees and residents in Kenya.
Recommendation Number

20

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should give a second locally employed staff member in the public affairs section grants training and the opportunity to prepare grants on an occasional basis in order to maintain grants expertise.
Recommendation Number

21

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should develop the capacity outside the public affairs section to handle audiovisual and photographic requirements for nonpublic diplomacy events.
Recommendation Number

22

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Consular Affairs, in coordination with the Bureau of African Affairs and Embassy Nairobi, should review consular responsibilities for Somalia and determine whether to concentrate them in Nairobi’s consular section.
Recommendation Number

23

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should update all position descriptions for locally employed staff in the consular section to reflect their current duties.
Recommendation Number

24

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should redistribute the operational oversight responsibilities in the consular section among the supervisory consular officers.
Recommendation Number

25

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should implement a comprehensive support plan for Kisumu that includes at least quarterly visits by a U.S. direct-hire International Cooperative Administrative Support Services provider.
Recommendation Number

26

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should expedite the hiring of a Kisumu housing manager.
Recommendation Number

27

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should implement a plan to consistently deliver cash replenishments to Kisumu’s cashier.
Recommendation Number

28

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should send appropriate International Cooperative Administrative Support Services staff to Kisumu to establish blanket purchase agreements with vendors that are responsive to Kisumu needs.
Recommendation Number

29

Closed Not Implemented

The Bureau of African Affairs, in coordination with the Office of the Legal Adviser, should implement a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Agency for International Development governing decisions on the use of the Nairobi U.S. Agency for International Development annex building and on building operating costs, in accordance with existing Department of State guidance.
Recommendation Number

30

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should cease work on the memorial at the chief of mission residence and seek Department of State authorization for any alterations.
Recommendation Number

31

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations should fund a suitable warehouse and maintenance facility for Embassy Nairobi and provide the embassy with a relevant funding timeline.
Recommendation Number

32

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should comply with the Department of State requirement for drivers to be medically certified annually.
Recommendation Number

33

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should discontinue shuttle service to Rosslyn Ridge or offer the service to all employees.
Recommendation Number

34

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should implement procedures to collect charges for home-to-office transportation from employees who use shuttle services.
Recommendation Number

35

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should update the embassy vehicle policy memo to include charging for home-to-office transportation and other authorized use.
Recommendation Number

36

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should review all changes to the chief of mission residence and obtain retroactive approval for the changes from the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations and guidance on appropriate reimbursement from the chief of mission.
Recommendation Number

37

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should inform the new deputy chief of mission of regulations governing his residence to avoid errors in the future.
Recommendation Number

38

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should institute a formal safety and health standing committee that meets on a quarterly basis.
Recommendation Number

39

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should assess and reorganize the human resources staff in accordance with Department of State regulations.
Recommendation Number

40

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should implement standards for the quality and timeliness of responses to human resources inquiries.
Recommendation Number

41

Closed Implemented $1,541,350

The Bureau of Human Resources, in coordination with Embassy Nairobi and the Bureau of African Affairs, should review the current 2-year tour of duty for Department of State employees in Nairobi and, if appropriate, change it to 3 years and make an exception to its current 2-year policy on hardship assignments.
Recommendation Number

42

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should implement procedures to advertise vacant positions in time to enable overlap between the departing incumbent and the new hire.
Recommendation Number

43

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should adjust its existing hiring timeline to meet uniform service standards.
Recommendation Number

44

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should publish a clear and comprehensive locally employed staff recruitment and hiring policy describing the process and timelines on its Web site.
Recommendation Number

45

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should include guidance on subject matter experts in the review of applicant qualifications as part of its locally employed staff recruitment and hiring policy.
Recommendation Number

46

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should conduct a comprehensive review of its staffing needs to determine which vacant and new positions might be filled by eligible family members.
Recommendation Number

47

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi, in coordination with the Bureau of Human Resources, should publish a clear and comprehensive eligible family member recruitment and hiring policy on its Web site that describes the hiring process and timelines.
Recommendation Number

48

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi, in coordination with the Bureau of Human Resources, should implement proper and timely payment procedures for eligible family member employees.
Recommendation Number

49

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should implement controls to authorize within-grade increases only with a supervisor’s certification that the employee’s performance is fully successful or better.
Recommendation Number

50

Closed Acceptable Alternative

Embassy Nairobi should include a work requirement for all supervisors to complete performance reviews on time and rate the supervisors accordingly.
Recommendation Number

51

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi, in coordination with the Bureau of Human Resources and the Bureau of African Affairs, should provide equitable support to safe-havening families and not impose any additional requirements that create a double security standard or undermine the Department of State’s aim of encouraging employees to volunteer for assignments in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan.
Recommendation Number

52

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Human Resources, in coordination with the Bureau of African Affairs, should provide guidance to Embassy Nairobi on bringing its accreditation procedures into compliance with 11 State 98069.
Recommendation Number

53

Closed Acceptable Alternative

Embassy Nairobi should establish monthly meetings for the deputy chief of mission or the management counselor with the locally employed staff committee.
Recommendation Number

54

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should distribute the agenda and minutes of its meetings with the locally employed staff committee to the locally employed staff via Department of State email.
Recommendation Number

55

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should display a bulletin board with current Equal Employment Opportunity information in all embassy buildings.
Recommendation Number

56

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi, in coordination with the Office of Civil Rights, should implement the Federal Women’s Program.
Recommendation Number

57

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should cease using commercial email to process Department information and use authorized Department automated information systems for conducting official business.
Recommendation Number

58

Closed Implemented

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

59

Closed Implemented

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

60

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should train all purchase cardholders in reconciling statements and resolving potential transaction disputes.
Recommendation Number

61

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should bring official residence staff contracts into compliance with Department of State regulations.
Recommendation Number

62

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should bring its policy of funding representational purchases into compliance with Department of State regulations, including guidance on reimbursing the employee association for any outstanding bills.
Recommendation Number

63

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should revise its designation of responsibilities management policy to identify a gifts officer to maintain gift logs and dispose of gifts in accordance with Department of State regulations.
Recommendation Number

64

Closed Implemented

Embassy Nairobi should publish a gifts policy.

Evaluation of the Antiterrorism Assistance Program for Countries Under the Bureaus of Near Eastern Affairs and South and Central Asian Affairs

AUD-MERO-12-29 April 2012

Recommendation Number

1

Closed New Report Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, in coordination with the Bureau of Counterterrorism, establish a monitoring and evaluation system that includes clearly defined and measurable outcome-oriented strategic goals and program objectives; measurable performance indicators that clearly link to strategic goals and program objectives; baseline data and annual performance targets for each indicator; and descriptions of how, when, and by whom performance data will be collected, analyzed, and reported. (Action: DS in coordination with CT.)
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, in coordination with the Bureau of Counterterrorism, develop a definition for what constitutes a developmental ATA program, consistently apply that definition to country programs, and ensure that partner country sustainability timelines are established for developmental ATA programs. (Action: DS in coordination with CT.)
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Diplomatic Security and the Bureau of Counterterrorism, in coordination with the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL), establish and implement a process that ensures effective consultation with DRL on the designation of foreign countries that are eligible for assistance through the Antiterrorism Assistance program as well as the training and equipment each designated country is to receive. (Action: DS and CT in coordination with DRL.)
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Diplomatic Security implement a standardized reporting process for in-country oversight of contracts for Antiterrorism Assistance program training in partner countries. (Action: DS)
Recommendation Number

5

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Diplomatic Security periodically validate its End Use Monitor database to ensure that the database includes records of all weapon transfers. (Action: DS.)
Recommendation Number

6

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Diplomatic Security establish a process, before equipment is provided to partner countries, to determine whether the equipment will be used and whether the equipment is compatible with and at an appropriate level for the partner country. (Action: DS.)
Recommendation Number

7

Closed Implemented $1,500,000 Significant

OIG recommends that the Bureau of Diplomatic Security review the types of the remaining equipment for the Iraq program stored in the Northern Virginia warehouse, evaluate the equipment’s utility, and determine an appropriate disposition. (Action: DS.)

Inspection of the American Institute in Taiwan

ISP-I-12-12A February 2012

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented

The American Institute in Taiwan, in coordination with the Bureau of Human Resources and the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, should require officers assigned to Taiwan – including incumbents who have more than 1 year remaining in Taiwan – to receive appropriate leadership and/or management training for their positions.
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented

The American Institute in Taiwan should require section chiefs and relevant local employees from the Taipei office to visit their counterparts in Kaohsiung on a quarterly basis, to provide guidance and mentoring.
Recommendation Number

3

Closed Implemented

The American Institute in Taiwan should revise and reclassify the position descriptions of the locally employed staff in the political section, giving them specific portfolios.
Recommendation Number

4

Closed Implemented

The American Institute in Taiwan should reallocate space to give the political section’s locally employed staff members more space and privacy.
Recommendation Number

5

Closed Implemented

The American Institute in Taiwan should submit periodic leadership analyses on notable individuals.
Recommendation Number

6

Closed Implemented

The American Institute in Taiwan should consolidate the biographic files of the political and economic sections into a single, electronic filing system that is available to all appropriate members of the mission and interested Washington offices.
Recommendation Number

7

Closed Implemented

The American Institute in Taiwan should regularly post biographic submissions of key political and economic figures on the Diplopedia/Intellipedia system.
Recommendation Number

8

Closed New Report

The Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, in coordination with the American Institute in Taiwan and in consultation with the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, should revise the contract with the American Institute in Taiwan to update and redefine the respective political-military roles and staffing of the American Institute in Taiwan and the institute’s office in Washington.
Recommendation Number

9

Closed Implemented

The American Institute in Taiwan should designate a Leahy vetting coordinator and provide that individual with appropriate training.
Recommendation Number

10

Closed Implemented

The American Institute in Taiwan should coordinate in advance with the public diplomacy section on logistics, organization, and media plans for all official public events.
Recommendation Number

11

Closed Implemented

The American Institute in Taiwan should consolidate its public diplomacy, political, and economic media reporting into a single, comprehensive product.
Recommendation Number

12

Closed Implemented

Sensitive Information Redacted
Recommendation Number

13

Closed Implemented

The Bureau of Consular Affairs, in coordination with the Bureau of Human Resources, the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, and the American Institute in Taiwan, should eliminate mid-level consular position number 77-018000 in Taipei.
Recommendation Number

14

Closed Implemented $884,030

The American Institute in Taiwan should eliminate four locally employed staff positions in the Taipei immigrant visa unit.
Recommendation Number

15

Closed Implemented $222,400

The Bureau of Consular Affairs, in coordination with the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, the Bureau of Human Resources, and the American Institute in Taiwan, should eliminate the vacant, entry-level consular officer position in Taipei.
Recommendation Number

16

Closed Implemented

The American Institute in Taiwan should limit the consular unit’s walk-in hours to one morning per week, and, if necessary, institute an appointment system for all walk-in clients.
Recommendation Number

17

Closed Implemented

The American Institute in Taiwan, in coordination with the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, should construct a cashier booth that complies with Department regulations at the branch office in Kaohsiung.
Recommendation Number

18

Closed Acceptable Alternative

The Bureau of Consular Affairs, in coordination with the Bureau of Human Resources, should provide the new public affairs officer being assigned to the American Institute in Taiwan’s Kaohsiung branch office with the training and designation to serve as backup consular officer.
Recommendation Number

19

Closed Implemented

The American Institute in Taiwan should institute a procedure to facilitate the timely reconciliation of consular receipts.
Recommendation Number

20

Closed Implemented

The Foreign Service Institute should change its policy with regard to training local employees of the American Institute in Taiwan, to comply with regulations identifying all American Institute in Taiwan employees as Department of State staff.
Recommendation Number

21

Closed Acceptable Alternative

The American Institute in Taiwan, in coordination with the American Institute in Taiwan/Washington, the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, and the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, should dispose of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Relations Office property.
Recommendation Number

22

Closed Acceptable Alternative $2,800,000

The American Institute in Taiwan, in coordination with the American Institute in Taiwan/Washington, the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, and the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, should sell the Japanese Guesthouse.
Recommendation Number

23

Closed Implemented $2,600,000

The American Institute in Taiwan, in coordination with the American Institute in Taiwan/Washington, the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, and the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, should dispose of the Summer House property.
Recommendation Number

24

Closed New Report $1,047,854

The American Institute in Taiwan, in coordination with the Bureau of Resource Management and the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, should develop and implement a plan to transition the American Institute in Taiwan’s financial operations from a hybrid financial system to the Department of State’s financial management system.
Recommendation Number

25

Closed Acceptable Alternative $1,400,000

The American Institute in Taiwan, in coordination with the Office of International Cooperative Administrative Support Services, should begin planning for the transition of the institute’s administrative support cost allocation system to the International Cooperative Administrative Support Services system.
Recommendation Number

26

Closed Implemented

The American Institute in Taiwan should submit documentation to the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs justifying continued eligibility for a rest and recuperation travel benefit.
Recommendation Number

27

Closed Implemented

The American Institute in Taiwan should include a work requirement for all supervisors, upon which they will be rated, to complete their employees’ work requirements statements, conduct employee performance evaluations on time, and submit completed evaluations to the Department on schedule.
Recommendation Number

28

Closed Implemented

The American Institute in Taiwan should review and, as appropriate, update all local employee position descriptions at the offices in Taipei and Kaohsiung.
Recommendation Number

29

Closed Implemented

The American Institute in Taiwan should determine and document whether residence-to-office transportation for employees is justified.
Recommendation Number

30

Closed Implemented

The American Institute in Taiwan should fully update and reissue its motor vehicle policy.
Recommendation Number

31

Closed Acceptable Alternative

The American Institute in Taiwan, in coordination with the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, should provide the institute’s contracting officers with the proper training and authorization to sign procurement documents.
Recommendation Number

32

Closed Implemented

The American Institute in Taiwan, in coordination with the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, should take all necessary steps to open a diplomatic post office.
Recommendation Number

33

Closed Implemented

The American Institute in Taiwan should designate a team leader to oversee the implementation of eServices, SharePoint, Web sites, and BlackBerry devices.
Recommendation Number

34

Closed Implemented

The American Institute in Taiwan should develop an action plan to address losses at the employee association and set up procedures for submitting the association’s financial statements to the Department on schedule.

Survey of Broadcasting Board of Governors Suspension and Debarment Process

AUD-CG-12-24 February 2012

Recommendation Number

1

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Director, Broadcasting Board of Governors, strengthen worldwide suspension and debarment policies and procedures in compliance with Executive Order 12689 and implemented through the Federal Acquisition Regulation, subpart 9.4, "Debarment, Suspension, and Ineligibility."
Recommendation Number

2

Closed Implemented

OIG recommends that the Director, Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), comply with the requirements of Federal Acquisition Regulation subpart 42.1502(b) and develop procedures to ensure that all pertinent contractor performance information is recorded in BBG's automated procurement database when it becomes available and in other appropriate Government-wide databases that track and monitor contractor performance.

7446 recommendations in total

Last Updated: June 4th, 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

424

$14,825,004

134

$0

416

$218,173,822

0

$0

36

$0

0

$0