Below is a list of our open audit recommendations. When a report is issued, the Postal Service responds to each recommendation, and if there is agreement, it provides a corrective action plan with a date of planned implementation. We request written confirmation from the Postal Service when those corrective actions are completed and evaluate this information and provide concurrence when the recommendation can be closed.
If the Postal Service disagrees with a recommendation, we work towards agreement by elevating discussions between USPS and OIG management. Any recommendations that the Postal Service does not act on remain open and are reported to Congress until a resolution is achieved.
Analyze work environment impacts that affect the Postal Service's ability to hire and retain personnel and create a plan to overcome those identified impacts.
$0
Open
Disagree
Agree
2
Explore the feasibility of increasing personnel pay in Colorado mountain towns based on locality, including tracking all expenses for personnel detailed to these locations and other hiring costs.
$0
Open
Disagree
3
Establish a program to monitor package handling to verify that packages are scanned and delivered, as required, and take corrective action with underperforming facilities.
$0
Open
Agree
4
Establish a process to track and monitor whether delivery unit management is appropriately documenting delivery contract irregularities with Postal Service Form 5500, and whether damages should be assessed, or the contract terminated for default.
$0
Open
Agree
5
Require any employee fulfilling the postmaster role at the select facilities, to take the formal Postmaster Essentials training course, and track compliance.
$0
Open
Disagree
Agree
6
Implement a developmental program, including on-the-job training at the delivery units, to ensure postmaster readiness.
$0
Open
Agree
7
Instruct local management in Colorado mountain town facilities to enter delayed mail in reporting systems and establish responsibility for processing manual flat mail.
$0
Open
Agree
8
Review trip times and volume profiles, and meet with appropriate delivery unit and plant personnel, to align transportation schedules to meet processing and delivery needs of facilities in Colorado mountain towns.
$0
Open
Agree
9
Develop a process to ensure communication occurs between delivery and processing personnel at facilities located in Colorado mountain towns when there is late arriving mail.
$0
Open
Agree
10
Conduct a study of the six delivery units to determine if existing workspace is sufficient to meet the needs of facilities and customers, and if not, explore opportunities to acquire needed space.
Develop and implement a plan to adjust package processing to meet clearance times at the North Houston Processing and Distribution Center.
$0
Open
Agree
2
Analyze current transportation schedules at the North Houston Processing and Distribution Center and implement appropriate changes to reduce dock congestion, minimize late trips, and reduce canceled trips.
$0
Closed
Agree
3
Develop and implement a process to properly identify mail in the manual letter operation unit and report any delayed mail in the Mail Condition Visualization system.
$0
Closed
Agree
4
Develop and implement a plan to verify scanning at the North Houston Processing and Distribution Center is consistently completed in accordance with policy and there are enough scanners for employees to complete all required scans.
$0
Open
Agree
5
Develop and implement a plan to verify all drivers are securing trailer cargo and are using wheel chocks at the North Houston Processing and Distribution Center.
$0
Closed
Agree
6
Reiterate policy regarding the use of locks and seals on trailer doors at the North Houston Processing and Distribution Center.
Develop and implement oversight procedures to verify that weekly and monthly hazardous waste inspections are performed, as required.
$0
Closed
Agree
2
Develop and implement oversight procedures to verify that vehicle maintenance facility personnel responsible for handling and storing hazardous waste complete hazardous waste annual training, as required.
$0
Open
Agree
3
Develop and implement oversight procedures to verify weekly testing and monthly/annual inspections of emergency eyewash and shower equipment are performed, as required.
$0
Closed
Agree
4
Provide applicable training on testing and inspecting emergency eyewash and shower equipment to responsible personnel, as required in relevant Maintenance Management Orders.
$0
Closed
Agree
5
Enforce existing policy for designated smoking areas to be more than 25 feet from oil storage or other operations involving flammable liquids or gases.
Require that the new payroll system be able to execute retroactive pay's complex processing when assessing, reviewing, and selecting a new vendor.
$0
Open
Agree
2
Coordinate with the functional areas involved in the process, establish and document procedures for processing retroactive pay that include documenting the responsibilities for functional areas involved in the process, scheduling guidelines, and timeframes to implement contract changes, allowing for improved clarity on the procedures necessary to implement contract requirements.
in coordination with the Vice President, Organization Development, establish and document a workforce plan that describes key recruitment, retention, and performance measurement activities. At a minimum, the plan should address strategic priorities, include workforce goals and objectives, identify stakeholder roles and responsibilities, and define a process for periodic review and updates.
$0
Open
Disagree
2
Develop a process to track employee and contractor training and certifications to monitor progress toward addressing the skills gaps identified in periodic skills assessments.
Evaluate the internal controls for the annual capital property review to identify process improvements, add controls, and create a goal to enhance accuracy. In addition, update Handbook AS-701, Asset Management, to reflect any additional controls or goals implemented in the annual capital property review process.
$0
Open
Agree
2
Reinforce the importance for facility management to issue timely, written material accountability officer delegation letters, and for newly assigned material accountability officers to conduct a physical inventory of capital assets, in accordance with Handbook AS-701, Asset Management.
Develop a plan to include proposed quantities, projected cost, and actionable milestones to fully deploy the eArrow lock and high security mailbox initiatives, and include measures to assess their effectiveness.
$0
Open
Disagree
2
Provide new and acting managers and supervisors training on arrow key policies upon assuming their roles and maintain documentation of training attendance.
$0
Open
Agree
3
Develop an oversight mechanism to hold managers and supervisors accountable for following established arrow key policy and training requirements.
$0
Open
Agree
4
Finalize the Mail Theft Strategy that is under development by the end of calendar year 2023.
$0
Closed
Agree
5
Assess staffing resources available nationwide to support the Mail Theft Program and align resources with their Mail Theft Strategy.
$0
Open
Agree
6
Require postal inspectors to complete the In-Service Basic Mail Theft training within one year of being assigned to a mail theft team.
$0
Open
Agree
7
Work with the contracting officer to modify the existing contract and 1) define the Mail Theft Analytics Program purpose to improve complaint data quality and usefulness for division personnel, 2) develop internal controls such as guidance and an oversight mechanism, and 3) establish performance metrics to assess the effectiveness of the program.
Implement consistent oversight procedures for facility management to verify penalty overtime transactions are being cleared before the pay week closes at each facility using the Missing 091 Transaction Report.
$140,856,063
Open
Disagree
Agree
2
Reiterate policy on the use and daily clearing of the Missing 091 Transaction Report to ensure penalty overtime hours are categorized as authorized or unauthorized in the Time and Attendance Collection System.
$0
Closed
Agree
3
Reiterate and clarify management responsibilities to complete the Postal Service Form 1017-B, Unauthorized Overtime Report, to include closed pay weeks, and provide oversight to ensure compliance.
$0
Closed
Agree
4
Develop and implement a tracking mechanism to monitor unauthorized overtime and penalty overtime hours.
$0
Closed
5
Determine the feasibility of updating the Postal Service Form 1017-B, Unauthorized Overtime Record, to separate regular unauthorized overtime hours from unauthorized penalty overtime hours.
Enhance contracting officer oversight to ensure suppliers adhere to contract terms, particularly those for requisite product inclusion, non-response bias mitigation, and address quality assessment completion.
$74,933
Closed
Agree
2
Conduct a cost, benefit, and feasibility analysis on potential options for increasing local delivery response rates and developing more easily understood survey terminology.
