State/OIG’s FY2019-2020 Work Plan includes the following matters that are expected to be completed in FY2019.
Review of the Department of State Organizational Redesign Effort (M/PRI)
President Trump issued an Executive Order (EO 13781) directing the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to submit a comprehensive plan to reorganize Executive Branch departments and agencies in 2017. In response, the Department initiated a redesign effort. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 required reorganization and redesign oversight. Specifically, OIG was asked to review the processes by which the Department “developed and implemented reorganization and redesign efforts and plans.” The objective of this review is to determine whether the processes employed by the Department to develop and implement its organizational redesign effort and plan complied with applicable Federal law and OMB guidance.
Review of Allegations of Prohibited Personnel Practices in the Office of the Secretary and the Bureau of International Organization Affairs (S, IO)
In response to congressional requests, referrals from the Department, and several hotline complaints, OIG initiated this special review of allegations that political appointees at the Department engaged in prohibited personnel practices against career officials.
Review of Sexual Harassment Processes (S, OCR)
This evaluation will assess how the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) responds to sexual harassment allegations made against Department employees and whether discipline is taken when allegations are substantiated.
Audit of Special Needs Education Allowance (CGFS)
By law, for employees serving in foreign areas, the Department must provide a Special Needs Education Allowance (SNEA) for children who meet the requirements of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Improvement Act. This allowance assists employees in meeting the extraordinary and necessary expenses incurred in providing adequate education for dependent children at overseas posts. The objective of this audit is to determine whether the Department has established and applied select internal control requirements from the Government Accountability Office’s Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government to effectually administer SNEA in accordance with Federal law and Department requirements.
Audit of Global Engagement Center (GEC) Coordination of U.S. Government Efforts To Counter Terrorist Messaging and Influence (GEC)
The Secretary of State established the GEC in April 2016 pursuant to Executive Order 13721 to “lead, synchronize, and coordinate efforts of the Federal Government to recognize, understand, expose, and counter foreign state and non-state propaganda and disinformation efforts aimed at undermining United States national security interests.” From 2016 to 2018, the GEC received $200 million to coordinate U.S. Government counter-messaging efforts to ensure they are streamlined and to eliminate duplication, and to consult with allied governments, nongovernmental organizations, civil society, and private-sector experts about best practices in confronting state- sponsored propaganda and disinformation. In addition, the GEC provided direct support to foreign nongovernmental organizations, think tanks, and other organizations. The objective of this audit is to determine whether the GEC has demonstrated progress toward achieving its statutory mission of leading, synchronizing, and coordinating U.S. Government efforts to counter foreign-state and non-state actors’ propaganda and disinformation.
Evaluation of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security’s Aegis Construction Contract at Camp Eggers, Afghanistan (DS/OBO/A)
In 2014, the Bureau of Diplomatic Security sought to mitigate the daily threats posed to the high-risk convoy movements conducted by the Kabul Embassy Security Force (KESF) by moving the KESF closer to U.S. Embassy Kabul to minimize dangerous convoy movements to and from the Embassy. To achieve this, it modified Task Order 10, a security contract held by Aegis, to include the construction of a camp for KESF personnel at Camp Eggers with an estimated project cost of about $173.3 million. However, this contract was eventually terminated without the completion of any significant work. This evaluation will examine how Aegis was selected for the construction of Camp Eggers; what caused multiple cost overruns and delays; why the Department continued using Aegis after non- compliance concerns were identified shortly after award; and what the Department received after spending $97.6 million on Camp Eggers.
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