Audit of USAID/Armenia's Clean Energy and Water Project
Recommendations
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.