The IG faulted the National Science Foundation's IPA vetting process for being decentralized. Image: JHVEPhoto/Shutterstock.com
In findings that could have wider application for all agencies that use the Intergovernmental Personnel Act, the IG at the National Science Foundation has urged greater attention to vetting individuals who come to temporarily work at the agency under that authority.
It said that the NSF and other federal agencies can benefit from using the law—which authorizes the temporary detail into federal agencies of personnel from universities, state governments and some other entities—by bringing in “fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to solving problems facing the federal government,” said the report. (The law also allows for rotations of federal employees out to such institutions.)
Those rotated in are subject to government-wide ethics, suitability, and security laws and regulations. However, the audit found that the NSF “did not always ensure IPA candidates met all program eligibility requirements or verify IPAs’ salary and employment history prior to assignment. Additionally, NSF did not update its personnel security and suitability review process to address risks associated with foreign influence.
“These problems occurred, in part, because NSF’s IPA vetting process is decentralized; there is no single office or individual that has full visibility of the entire vetting process, and the NSF offices that participate in the IPA vetting process did not always coordinate and communicate effectively,” it said.
It said the agency agreed with its recommendations to improve coordination among offices involved with such assignments and strengthen the vetting procedures.
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