OFFICE OF 

INSPECTOR GENERAL 

U.S.DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

VERIFICATION REVIEW

Recommendations for the 

Evaluation Report Titled 

Improvements Needed in the 

Bureau of Reclamation’s

Oversight of Tribal Rural Water 

Projects 

(2016-WR-026)

Report No.: 2020--WR--061 1RYHPber 2020
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OFFICE OF 

INSPECTOR GENERAL 

U.S.DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Memorandum 

To: Tonya Johnson 

Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Director, Office of Financial Management 

From: Michael P. Colombo 

Western Regional Manager for Audits, Inspections, and Evaluations 

Subject: Verification Review – Recommendations for the Evaluation Report Titled 

Improvements Needed in the Bureau of Reclamation’s Oversight of Tribal Rural 

Water Projects (2016-WR-026) 

Report No. 2020-WR-061 

The Office of Inspector General has completed a verification review of 

Recommendations 1 – 4 presented in the subject report. Our objective was to determine whether 

the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) implemented the recommendations as reported to the Office 

of Financial Management (PFM), Office of Policy, Management and Budget. The PFM reported 

to us that the recommendations had been implemented. Based on our review, we concur that the 

recommendations are resolved and implemented. 

Background 

Our July 31, 2017 evaluation report, Improvements Needed in the Bureau of 

Reclamation’s Oversight of Tribal Rural Water Projects, made 5 recommendations to improve 

the BOR’s oversight of its construction projects for tribal rural water supply. In a memorandum 

dated June 2, 2017, the BOR partially concurred with Recommendation 1 and concurred with 

Recommendations 2 – 4. We considered Recommendation 1 partially resolved and not 

implemented, Recommendations 2 – 4 resolved but not implemented, and Recommendation 5 

resolved and implemented. In an August 25, 2017 memorandum, we referred Recommendations 

1 – 4 to the Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget to track their 

implementation. 

Scope and Methodology 

The scope of this review was limited to determining whether the BOR implemented the 

recommendations. To accomplish our objective, we reviewed the supporting documentation the 

BOR provided to the PFM and further documentation that the BOR submitted to us. We did not 

test internal controls, perform site visits, or conduct fieldwork to determine whether the 

underlying deficiencies that we initially identified were corrected. As a result, this review was 

not conducted in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards, issued by 

Office of Audits, Inspections, and Evaluations | Sacramento, CA 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the Comptroller General of the United States or Quality Standards for Inspection and Evaluation 

issued by the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency. 

Results of Review 

We found that the BOR resolved and implemented Recommendations 1 – 4. 

Recommendation 1: Track both the physical and financial completion 

percentages for tribal rural water supply projects. 

Action Taken: The BOR provided to the PFM its plans to track physical completion so 

that construction progress can be measured against tribal rural water project expenditures from 

start to finish. 

Recommendation 2: Conduct an analysis to determine appropriate project 

completion dates and the required funding to meet those completion dates for each tribal 

rural water supply project. 

Action Taken: The BOR performed an analysis using three different funding scenarios 

to properly estimate completion dates. The BOR stated that water projects have differing 

authorization dates and, thus, differing completion dates. The three funding scenarios the BOR 

used for each of the six projects are current funding, additional funding, and full funding. 

Recommendation 3: Establish procedures to identify and track project deviations, 

impediments, or delays from the expected completion dates of tribal rural water supply projects 

and coordinate with DOI [U.S. Department of the Interior] budget officials to ensure adequate 

project funding requirements are included in future budget requests. 

Action Taken: The BOR analyzed how it will identify and track project deviations, 

impediments, or delays from the expected completion dates of tribal rural water supply projects. 

The BOR stated that it will coordinate with DOI budget officials to ensure adequate project 

funding requirements are included in future budget requests. The BOR has also formed a 

Pub. L. No. 93-638 Steering Committee to help implement Recommendations 1 and 3. 

Recommendation 4: Develop and implement policies and procedures for 

awarding officer’s technical representatives (AOTRs) that will ensure adequate oversight 

and documentation are standardized for all tribal rural water supply projects. 

Action Taken: The BOR developed the Best Practices Handbook for Implementation of 

the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistant Act (P.L. 93-638), which contains 

detailed information on the awarding AOTRs roles and processes. The sections directly related to 

the AOTRs contain clear guidance for the post-award phase that will help standardize the BOR’s 

interactions during tribal rural water supply projects. The BOR gave the handbook to all staff in 

2019 and stated that it will use the handbook during training and meetings to ensure the AOTRs 

are fully informed. 

2 
 

 

Conclusion 

We concluded that that all recommendations have been resolved and implemented. 

We informed BOR officials of the results of this review on September 29, 2020. If you have any 

questions about this verification review, please contact me at 916-978-6199. 

cc: Vicki Cook, Native American and International Affairs Office, Bureau of Reclamation 

Shane Scheick,Missouri Basin Region, Bureau of Reclamation 

Andrea Brandon, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget 

Chadrick Minnifield, Division Chief, Internal Control and Audit Follow-Up, Office of 

Financial Management 

Alexis Vann, Office of Financial Management 

Dorothy Hines, Audit Liaison, Bureau of Reclamation 

Brittney Overdiek, Audit Liaison, Bureau of Reclamation 

3 
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