Recommendation Dashboard

We recommend that the Millennium Challenge Corporation's Deputy Chief
Financial Officer revise the written budget policy and procedures to account for the change from line item budgeting to project budgeting.

We recommend that the Millennium Challenge Corporation's Chief Information Officer work with the Acquisitions/Contracting Office to develop and implement a written process to monitor projects requiring earned value management in accordance with Millennium Challenge Corporation policies and procedures, including identifying those projects and determining their earned value.

We recommend that the Millennium Challenge Corporation's Chief Information Officer develop and implement a written process to document project charters
consistently.

We recommend that the Millennium Challenge Corporation's Chief Information Officer develop and implement a written process to consistently develop, store, and organize project management artifacts on the corporation's Project Management Central Web site.

We recommend that the Millennium Challenge Corporations Chief Information Officer finalize and implement the written systems development life cycle plan to address the corporation's agile methodology, including the justification for any deliverables or requirements that are not deemed applicable or critical to the project.

We recommend that the Millennium Challenge Corporation's Chief Information Officer develop and implement a written process to monitor whether the
corporation's systems development life cycle methodology is followed.

We recommend that the Millennium Challenge Corporation's Managing Director, Contracts and Grants Management Division, design and implement a written process to monitor compliance with the requirement for program offices to complete, submit, and obtain approval for acquisition plans.

USAID/Haiti and the Pan American Development Foundation identify and focus on activities that will have the most impact in the time remaining on the program.

USAID/Haiti determine the number of jobs the program can realistically generate given the available resources, and update its target accordingly.

USAID/Haiti conduct a performance evaluation of the program to determine program impact, and evaluate the potential for investments in small and medium-sized enterprises.

USAID/Haiti document outstanding issues noted in portfolio reviews, and implement a mechanism to resolve them.

USAID/Haiti evaluate the performance indicators, revise definitions to eliminate ambiguity, and document the results.

USAID/Haiti and Pan American Development Foundation identify and document opportunities for engaging with the chambers of commerce in Cap-Haitien and St. Marc in providing business advisory services.

USAID/Haiti and Pan American Development Foundation develop strategies for diaspora engagement and incorporate activities under the remittances program.

USAID/Haiti require the implementer to correct the deficiency in its system for tracking cost-sharing contributions.

USAID/Haiti require the implementer to catch up on its cost-share contributions so that it meets its full cost share by the program's end.

We recommend that the Millennium Challenge Corporation's Vice President, Department of Compact Operations, document the Moroccan Government's
progress in making all small-scale fisheries projects operational.

We recommend that the Millennium Challenge Corporation's Vice President, Department of Compact Operations, develop and implement guidance for multi-partner projects to strengthen oversight and accountability.

USAID/Philippines conduct a cost-benefit analysis of the project and the remaining $4.47 million unobligated funds to prioritize activities that can be achieved realistically, and amend the cooperative agreement and work plan as necessary.

USAID/Philippines require the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources to conduct a cost-benefit analysis to compare the costs of procuring carbon stock equipment versus outsourcing.

USAID/Philippines require the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources to implement a plan to train Partners With Melanesians and the Centre for Locally Managed Areas how to conduct baseline surveys.

USAID/Philippines require the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources to implement a plan to train Partners With Melanesians and the Centre for Locally Managed Areas how to conduct vulnerability assessments.

USAID/Philippines require the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources to train the project management unit to monitor subrecipients' activities.

USAID/Philippines require the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources to strengthen the project's monitoring plan to comply with the terms in the agreement.

USAID/Philippines require the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources to implement procedures to verify reported data before submitting them to the mission.

USAID/Philippines determine which USAID-funded activities and commodities under its Mangrove Rehabilitation for Sustainably Managed Healthy Forests project are unmarked and mark them as appropriate.

USAID/Philippines require the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources to provide branding and marking instructions and guidance to its Mangrove Rehabilitation for Sustainably Managed Healthy Forests subrecipients.

USAID/Philippines amend the cooperative agreement to further reduce the number of project sites and add standard provisions for non-U.S. nongovernmental recipients, as appropriate.

USAID/Pakistan make a written justification whether to continue the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Municipal Services Program or to cancel it and put the remaining funds totaling approximately $79 million to better use.

USAID/Pakistan resolves to continue the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Municipal Services Program, it must implement a written action plan to address the lack of significant progress being made and make a written determination of whether additional capacity-building activities should be conducted.

USAID/Pakistan work with the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to implement a joint process of identifying and selecting infrastructure projects for the program to fund.

USAID/Pakistan complete and approve a monitoring and evaluation plan, which integrates specific approved infrastructure projects.

USAID/Pakistan either work with the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and document a process to start selecting municipal service infrastructure projects in the divisions of Dera Ismail Khan and Malakand, or amend the geographic scope of the activity agreement to focus on Peshawar.

USAID/Pakistan determine how much of the $84.75 million grant agreement pertains to water earmarked funding, separate this funding from the Municipal Services Program, and document the results.

USAID/Pakistan implement a separate agreement with the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa regarding the water earmarked funding, outlining fund requirements.

USAID/Pakistan implement a process of scheduling and completing initial environmental examinations once specific infrastructure activities are approved.

USAID/Pakistan complete the environmental assessment for two wastewater treatment plants in Peshawar.

USAID/Pakistan implement a logical framework to understand how Urban Policy Unit activities contribute to the Municipal Services Program's goal. If they do not, the remaining funds totaling approximately $1.6 million not spent under Project Implementation Letters 2 and 4 should be reprogrammed for better use and the results documented.

USAID/Pakistan establish and implement a system to assess gender considerations for individual infrastructure projects, including the preparation of gender-sensitive planning and monitoring procedures.

USAID/Pakistan work with the grantee to document the basis for the current allocation of toilets by gender, modify the allocation if necessary, and document the results.

USAID/Regional Development Mission for Asia require University Research Co. to conduct an analysis of the project's reported data, and, based on the results, include strategic information in the progress reports.

USAID/Regional Development Mission for Asia determine whether more frequent reporting of the project's progress is required for better management, and, if necessary, amend the reporting requirement in the cooperative agreement accordingly.

USAID/Regional Development Mission for Asia require University Research Co. to establish access security controls in its project management information system to prevent unauthorized access.

USAID/Regional Development Mission for Asia require University Research Co. to implement a plan to improve the project's monitoring, evaluation, and reporting systems.

USAID/Regional Development Mission for Asia conduct a comprehensive data quality assessment for the CAP-Malaria project that includes detailed testing of data in Burma and Thailand.

USAID/Regional Development Mission for Asia verify and document whether University Research Co. has taken adequate corrective actions to address the recommendations of the previous data quality assessments conducted on the CAP-Malaria project in Cambodia.

USAID/Regional Development Mission for Asia require University Research Co. to strengthen the staffing capacity of its monitoring and evaluation teams and field offices for the project to enable adequate data verification before submission to the mission.

USAID/Regional Development Mission for Asia and its counterparts at USAID missions in Burma and Cambodia conduct and document an assessment of the regional component of the project to define roles and responsibilities of each mission.

USAID/Regional Development Mission for Asia determine and document whether amendments to the cooperative agreement are necessary to change the project description and reporting requirements, and, if needed, make any required changes.

USAID/Regional Development Mission for Asia require University Research Co. to complete the sustainability and exit plan for the CAP-Malaria project as stated in the implementation plan of the cooperative agreement.

USAID/Regional Development Mission for Asia require University Research Co. to conduct a gender analysis and internal gender audits for Burma, Cambodia, and Thailand as stated in the cooperative agreement.

USAID/Regional Development Mission for Asia implement a mission order requiring the deliverables of all mission projects to be tracked so the incoming agreement officer's and contracting officer's representatives will have the most updated information for project management.

The Chief Information Officer review the permissions within the Google Apps for business applications and revise any that are necessary to protect any personally identifiable information and sensitive but unclassified information from being shared improperly.

The Chief Information Officer document and implement procedures to review permissions periodically within the Google Apps for business applications to identify and correct any improperly shared personally identifiable information and other sensitive information.

The Chief Information Officer document and implement a training program for users of the Google Apps for business applications that includes awareness of the risks of disclosing sensitive information and preventive measures to avoid improper disclosure.

The Chief Information Officer review and update the May 26, 2011, privacy impact assessment for Google Apps for business to reflect the types of information that the Google applications collect, maintain, and disseminate, and how the information is used.

The Chief Information Officer document and implement a process for confirming that complete and detailed cost-benefit analyses are prepared for all proposed cloud computing service contracts and that investment documents, including cost estimates and validations, are maintained in accordance with Office of Management and Budget Circular A-130, the Federal Acquisition Regulation Subpart 39, and Automated Directives System 577.

the Chief Information Officer document and implement a process for confirming that all documents supporting post-implementation reviews of cloud computing service contracts are maintained as required in Automated Directives System 577.

The Chief Information Officer update USAID's inventory of cloud computing contracts so the inventory list is complete.

The Chief Information Officer document and implement procedures for maintaining a complete, accurate inventory of the Agency's cloud computing contracts.

The Director, Office of Acquisition and Assistance, document and implement acquisition policies and procedures to comply with the IT Project Governance Manual, and require USAID missions, bureaus, and offices to get the Chief Information Officer's approval before acquiring and using cloud computing services.

The Director, Office of Acquisition and Assistance, develop and establish cloud service contracting requirements in accordance with the best practices for the following items: terms of service, service level agreements, nondisclosure agreements, and investigative access.

The Chief Information Officer modify USAID contract no. AID-CIO-O-13-00054 with MiCore Solutions Inc. for Google Apps for business to include: terms of service and assign a USAID official to monitor USAID's compliance with the terms.A service level agreement that addresses scheduled service outages, data
preservation responsibilities, and service agreement change. A signed nondisclosure agreement by the cloud service provider. A requirement for investigative access in accordance with best practices.

The Chief Information Officer modify USAID contract no. AID-CIO-M-11-00008 with Terremark Federal Group Inc. for Terremark Services to include:an assigned USAID official to monitor USAID's compliance with the terms of service. An executed service level agreement with the cloud service provider that addresses remedies to be paid when services are not available. A signed nondisclosure agreement by the cloud service provider. A requirement for investigative access in accordance with best practices.

The Chief Information Officer modify USAID contract no. AID-CTA-TO-13-00001/2 with Triad Technology Partners Inc. and Immix Technology Inc. for the Intranet Modernization Initiative to include:terms of service and assign a USAID official to monitor USAID's compliance with the terms. An executed service level agreement with the cloud service provider that addresses schedule service outages, data preservation responsibilities, service agreement changes, and remedies to be paid when services are not available. A signed nondisclosure agreement by the cloud service provider. A requirement for investigative access in accordance with best practices.

The Chief Information Officer establish or revise target dates in Google Apps for business's plan of action and milestones for action items that do not have a due date or are past-due.

The Chief Information Officer modify the contract for Google Apps for business to require that the cloud service provider be certified by the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program, or move the service to a certified provider.

The Chief Information Officer complete the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program Agency Authorization for Huddle and Tibbr for the Intranet Modernization Initiative by September 30, 2015, per the contract.

The Chief Information Officer assess and authorize security controls for Salesforce's CRM cloud-based system.

The Chief Information Officer update the Frequency of Reviews column in Automated Directives System, Chapter 577, Table 1 -Investment Funding Category Documentation and Review Requirements, by requiring post-implementation reviews for Investment Funding Category I and II as required by the Office of Management and Budget Circular A-130.

USAID/Armenia implement controls to incorporate lessons learned and concept paper review comments into project design.

USAID/Armenia document how the Clean Energy and Water Project is aligned with the country development cooperation strategy.

USAID/Armenia implement written procedures to document technical direction provided by the contracting officer's representative and give the directions to the contracting officer.

USAID/Armenia discuss and document the need for a Clean Energy and Water Project contract modification with the contracting officer and the contractor, and modify if needed.

USAID/Armenia develop and implement procedures to factor sustainability into project planning.

USAID/Armenia assess and document the Armenian Government's capacity and implement a sustainability plan for the Clean Energy and Water Project activities.

USAID/Armenia, in coordination with donors and others as necessary, determine the need for activities identified as potentially duplicative and document the results of the determination and coordination.

USAID/Armenia provide clarification on the contracting officer representative's approval of the implementing partner's documents, and train contracting officer representatives on the level of technical, administrative, and financial oversight they should provide to implementers.

USAID/Armenia require the contractor to provide detailed subcontractors' vouchers that have budget lines for costs such as salaries, allowances, and other direct costs.

USAID/Armenia provide missing rate approvals for implementing partner staff.

USAID/Armenia determine the amount of salaries billed, the allowability of $131,235 in unsupported salaries paid, and collect any deemed unallowable.

USAID/Armenia implement controls for identifying and reconciling budgeted versus actual project costs.

USAID/Armenia implement and document internal controls to make sure project management files maintain the minimum amount of documentation, in accordance with the designation letter. These files should be accessible and have adequate documentation for audit purposes and future contracting officers' representatives.

USAID/Armenia collaborate with the implementing partner to update the performance management plan to ensure validity, integrity, precision, and reliability of data, and document the results.

USAID/Armenia implement a plan to improve oversight and verification of the implementing partner's reported performance results.

USAID/Armenia determine the amount spent on energy, and discuss energy-related project priorities with the Bureau for Economic Growth, Education, and Environment's Energy and Infrastructure Office, take any related corrective actions, and document the discussion and results.

USAID/Rwanda modify the Family Health Project contract to establish binding performance standards.

USAID/Rwanda require Chemonics International Inc. to provide quarterly progress reports that include quantitative and sex-disaggregated performance management plan data.

USAID/Rwanda implement a system to track and document mission follow-up on issues and recommendations reported in data quality assessments.

USAID/Rwanda update its standard site visit checklist to reflect the site visit data verification steps required by the mission order.

USAID/Nepal work with World Wildlife Fund to increase the final target for Hectares of biodiverse area under improved management to reflect an ambitious, achievable result expected under the Hariyo Ban Program.

USAID/Nepal work with World Wildlife Fund to create standard reporting procedures for program income earned under the Hariyo Ban Program.

USAID/Nepal work with World Wildlife Fund to develop new guidance for cooperatives receiving revolving funds, including requirements to use funds in a timely manner and limit administrative expenses.

USAID/Nepal require the World Wildlife Fund to set performance targets or milestones for activities funded by Windows of Opportunity grants to gauge how successful they are in contributing to the Hariyo Ban Program's objectives.

USAID/Nepal require World Wildlife Fund to contract audits of its subrecipients Federation of Community Forest Users Nepal and National Trust for Nature Conservation for the fiscal years ending June 2013 and June 2014, and verify that an audit is completed for every subrecipient spending more than $300,000 in one fiscal year. The audits should be conducted in accordance with the Guidelines for Financial Audits Contracted by Foreign Recipients, dated February 2009.