GSA has largely met its lead-agency responsibilities for implementing the Federal Buildings Personnel Training Act of 2010 but compliance among other agencies is spotty in part because the law lacks enforcement provisions, GAO has said.
It said GSA has identified core competencies and a recommended curriculum for federal buildings personnel, has drafted a charter for an interagency advisory board to help coordinate government-wide implementation and has developed software tools to assist agencies with compliance efforts. GSA also is in the process of implementing the requirements for its own employees, it said.
However, of other selected agencies GAO reviewed, DoD and Energy have taken some actions to respond to the act, while Justice, Interior, and VA “have not yet determined how to respond.”
The main issue, GAO said, is that compliance is “essentially voluntary” because the law doesn’t give GSA, OPM or any other agency authority to enforce compliance. GSA for example is not authorized to issue official government-wide guidance on implementation, and agencies are not required to report the status of their employees’ compliance, “a circumstance that leaves agencies with little incentive to determine how many employees are affected or complying.” Nor did the law provide funding for additional training and no interagency group has been established that ensures consistent implementation government-wide.
GSA should develop a legislative proposal to establish agency authorities and reporting responsibilities, said GAO, which noted that real property management has been on its high risk list since 2003.
