ML21172A135
| ML21172A135 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 07/07/2021 |
| From: | Darrell Roberts NRC/EDO |
| To: | Rivera E NRC/OIG/AIGA |
| Daly J, ADM (301) 415-8079 | |
| References | |
| OEDO-21-00269-ADM | |
| Download: ML21172A135 (3) | |
Text
July 7, 2021 MEMORANDUM TO: Eric Rivera Acting Assistant Inspector General for Audits FROM: Darrell J. Roberts /RA/
Deputy Executive Director for Materials, Waste, Research, State, Tribal, Compliance, Administration, and Human Capital Programs Office of the Executive Director for Operations
SUBJECT:
STAFF RESPONSE TO THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERALS AUDIT OF NRCS GRANTS PRE-AWARD AND AWARD PROCESSES (OIG-21-A-11)
The staff has received the Office of Inspector Generals (OIG) report for Audit OIG-21-A-11, Audit of NRCs Grants Pre-Award and Award Processes, dated June 8, 2021. This memorandum provides the staffs responses to four OIG recommendations. Each staff response includes the staffs planned actions and target dates for completion.
Recommendation 1:
Revise agency policies to require:
A. A review of applicants geographic diversity, diversity in technical disciplines, prior award performance issues, number of prior NRC awards, and current unexpended grant funds, include the NRC staff responsible for the review, and B. A review of the NRCs suspended Automated Standard Application for Payments account list to determine applicants performance histories, including the NRC staff responsible for the review.
Response
Agree. The Office of Administration (ADM) will update agency policies to require 1) a review of applicants geographic diversity, diversity in technical disciplines, prior award performance issues, number of prior NRC awards, and current unexpended grant funds, include the NRC staff responsible for the review, and 2) a review of the NRCs suspended Automated Standard Application for Payments account list to determine applicants performance histories, including the NRC staff responsible for the review.
Target Completion Date: December 31, 2021 Point of
Contact:
Jill Daly, 301-415-8079
E. Rivera Recommendation 2:
Develop agency guidance for when to use additional and specific conditions into grant agreements for awardees that have prior inconsistent application of grant requirements.
Response
Agree. The Office of Administration will develop agency guidance for when to use additional and specific conditions into grant agreements for awardees that have prior inconsistent application of grant requirements.
Target Completion Date: December 31, 2021 Point of
Contact:
Jill Daly, 301-415-8079 Recommendation 3:
Implement a requirement whereby the grant application shall require the validation of citizenship status or lawful admittance to the United States as a permanent resident, for individuals proposed in the grant application.
Response
Agree. The FY2021 Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) included language requiring applicants to self-certify their citizenship status and/or admission to the United States as a permanent resident. The citizenship requirements clause in the FOA also states that that the NRC reserves the right to take any number of administrative actions (e.g., disallow costs, termination) should the recipient violate their responsibility under this clause.
Completed: March 2021 Point of
Contact:
MLita Carr, 301-415-6869 Recommendation 4:
Develop and implement a process to ensure all grant documents and records are uploaded to the appropriate electronic repository.
Response
Agree. All grant awards and associated documentation are completely electronic, and beginning in FY2019, a checklist for completeness is included in each electronic file.
Documentation from grant files that were previously partially paper and partially electronic have been scanned and uploaded to STAQS.
Completed: May 2019 Point of
Contact:
MLita Carr, 301-415-6869
ML21172A135 *e-concurrence OFFICE ADM/AMD/APPSD/BC* RES/PMDA/D* ADM/AMD/D*
NAME JDaly MBrezovec EJernell DATE 6/21/2021 6/21/2021 6/25/2021 OFFICE ADM/DD* ADM/D* DEDM*
NAME JCorbett JGolder DRoberts DATE 6/29/2021 6/30/2021 7/08/2021