Government Operations

Recent Reports

Federal Hiring: OPM Should Collect and Share COVID-19 Lessons Learned to Inform Hiring During Future Emergencies

GAO-22-104297

Published: Oct 25, 2021.

Publicly Released: Oct 25, 2021.

FEMA Flood Maps: Better Planning and Analysis Needed to Address Current and Future Flood Hazards

GAO-22-104079

Published: Oct 25, 2021.

Publicly Released: Oct 25, 2021.

Small Business Contracting: Actions Needed to Implement and Monitor DOD's Small Business Strategy

GAO-22-104621

Published: Oct 14, 2021.

Publicly Released: Oct 14, 2021.

Small Business Research Programs: Agencies Should Further Improve Award Timeliness

GAO-22-104677

Published: Oct 14, 2021.

Publicly Released: Oct 14, 2021.

Federal Research: Agency Actions Needed to Address Foreign Influence

GAO-22-105434

Published: Oct 05, 2021.

Publicly Released: Oct 05, 2021.

Contingency Contracting: DOD Has Taken Steps to Address Commission Recommendations, but Should Better Document Progress and Improve Contract Data [Reissued with revisions on Oct. 1, 2021.]

GAO-21-344

Published: Sep 30, 2021.

Publicly Released: Oct 01, 2021.

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Open Recommendations

Small Business Research Programs: Agencies Should Further Improve Award Timeliness

GAO-22-104677

Oct 14, 2021

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22 Open Recommendations

Agency Affected	Recommendation	Status
Administration for Community Living	The Administrator of the Administration for Community Living should evaluate the effectiveness of steps taken to improve SBIR award timeliness and take any necessary additional steps in order to consistently meet SBA award timeliness guidelines. (Recommendation 1)	Open When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Energy	The Director of the Advanced Projects Research Agency-Energy should evaluate the effectiveness of steps taken to improve SBIR and STTR award timeliness and take any necessary additional steps in order to consistently meet SBA award timeliness guidelines. (Recommendation 2)	Open When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Agriculture	The Secretary of Agriculture should evaluate the effectiveness of steps taken to improve SBIR award timeliness and take any necessary additional steps in order to consistently meet SBA award timeliness guidelines. (Recommendation 3)	Open When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of the Air Force	The Secretary of the Air Force should evaluate the effectiveness of steps taken to improve SBIR and STTR award timeliness and take any necessary additional steps in order to consistently meet SBA award timeliness guidelines. (Recommendation 4)	Open When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of the Army	The Secretary of the Army should evaluate the effectiveness of steps taken to improve SBIR award timeliness and take any necessary additional steps in order to consistently meet SBA award timeliness guidelines. (Recommendation 5)	Open When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of the Army	The Secretary of the Army should evaluate the effectiveness of steps taken to improve STTR award timeliness and take any necessary additional steps in order to consistently meet SBA award timeliness guidelines. (Recommendation 6)	Open When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Small Business Contracting: Actions Needed to Implement and Monitor DOD's Small Business Strategy

GAO-22-104621

Oct 14, 2021

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3 Open Recommendations

Agency Affected	Recommendation	Status
Office of Small Business Programs	The Director of DOD's Office of Small Business Programs should develop and submit an implementation plan for DOD's Small Business Strategy, as required by Section 861 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. (Recommendation 1)	Open When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Office of Small Business Programs	The Director of DOD's Office of Small Business Programs should develop a policy to guide the implementation of a unified management structure as part of the Small Business Strategy. (Recommendation 2)	Open When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Office of Small Business Programs	The Director of DOD's Office of Small Business Programs should establish a formal process for monitoring and reporting on DOD's progress in implementing its Small Business Strategy. (Recommendation 3)	Open When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Contingency Contracting: DOD Has Taken Steps to Address Commission Recommendations, but Should Better Document Progress and Improve Contract Data [Reissued with revisions on Oct. 1, 2021.]

GAO-21-344

Oct 01, 2021

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4 Open Recommendations

Agency Affected	Recommendation	Status
Department of Defense	The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment directs the OCS Functional Capabilities Integration Board to document the department's progress in implementing the Commission on Wartime Contracting recommendations in a consistent and complete manner. (Recommendation 1)	Open When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Defense	The Secretary of Defense should ensure that data on operations, exercises, and other activities reported in SPOT-ES are linked with "applicable contingency operations" described in DOD guidance. (Recommendation 2)	Open When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Defense	Secretary of Defense should designate a single office to provide oversight for monitoring and reporting which operations, exercises, and other activities listed in SPOT-ES are linked with "applicable contingency operations." (Recommendation 3)	Open When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Defense	The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment take steps to improve data completeness and accuracy, by revising the SPOT Business Rules as appropriate, and designating responsibility for resolving any missing information on contractor personnel in SPOT-ES, and communicating such information to the relevant heads of contracting activities. (Recommendation 4)	Open When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

U.S. Postal Service: Better Use of Climate Data Could Enhance the Climate Resilience of Postal Facilities

GAO-21-104152

Sep 30, 2021

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1 Open Recommendations

Agency Affected	Recommendation	Status
United States Postal Service	The Postmaster General should ensure that executive leaders incorporate climate information, such as available real-time climate data, in the preliminary steps of USPS's process for making facility investments, consistent with the requirements of USPS policy. (Recommendation 1)	Open When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.