Agencies seem to be taking action to incorporate characteristics associated with active suspension and debarment programs, GAO has said based on a review of six agencies – the Departments of Commerce, Health and Human Services, Justice, State and Treasury, and FEMA.
Since 2011, the agencies have addressed staffing issues through actions such as defining roles and responsibilities, adding positions, and consolidating suspension and debarment functions, according to GAO-14-513.
It said they also have issued formal policies and promulgated detailed guidance, as well as engaged in practices that encourage an active referral process, such as establishing positions to ensure cases are referred for possible action, and developing case management tools.
The number of suspension and debarment actions government-wide has more than doubled from 1,836 in fiscal 2009 to 4,812 in fiscal 2013, with the number of actions for the six agencies increasing from 19 in fiscal 2009 to 271 in fiscal 2013, the report said.
It credited OMB and the Interagency Suspension and Debarment Committee for taking action to strengthen government-wide suspension and debarment efforts.
