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Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency Please Contact: Phone: (202) 292-2600 Email: [email protected]

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Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency Please Contact: Phone: (202) 292-2600 Email: Cigie.Information@Cigie.Gov Council of Inspectors General Invitation to Contribute Articles on Integrity and Efficiency to the Journal of Public Inquiry Members of the Council The Journal of Public Inquiry is a The Inspector General Reform Agency for International Development Department of Interior publication of the Inspectors General Act of 2008 created the Council Department of Agriculture U.S. International Trade Commission of the United States. We solicit articles of Inspectors General on Amtrak Department of Justice from professionals and scholars on Appalachian Regional Commission Department of Labor topics important to the Inspector Integrity and Efficiency. This Architect of the Capitol Legal Services Corporation statutory council supersedes U.S. Capitol Police Library of Congress General community. the former President’s Council Central Intelligence Agency National Aeronautics and Space on Integrity and Efficiency and Department of Commerce Administration Articles should be approximately Commodity Futures Trading Commission National Archives Executive Council on Integrity four to six pages (2,000-3,500 words), and Efficiency, established under Consumer Product Safety Commission National Credit Union Administration Corporation for National and Community National Endowment for the Arts single-spaced, and submitted to: Executive Order 12805. Service National Endowment for the Humanities Corporation for Public Broadcasting National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency The CIGIE mission is to Defense Intelligence Agency National Labor Relations Board By email: address integrity, economy, and The Denali Commission National Science Foundation [email protected] effectiveness issues that transcend Department of Defense National Reconnaissance Office individual government agencies Office of the Director of National Nuclear Regulatory Commission By mail: Intelligence National Security Agency and increase the professionalism Department of Education Office of Personnel Management Department of Defense and effectiveness of personnel by Election Assistance Commission Peace Corps Inspector General developing policies, standards, Department of Energy Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation 4800 Mark Center Drive and approaches to aid in the Environmental Protection Agency Postal Regulatory Commission Alexandria, VA 22350 establishment of a well-trained Equal Employment Opportunity U.S. Postal Service and highly skilled workforce in Commission Railroad Retirement Board Export-Import Bank of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission the Offices of Inspectors General. Farm Credit Administration Small Business Administration Federal Communications Commission Smithsonian Institution CIGIE is led by Chair Phyllis K. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Social Security Administration Fong, Inspector General of the Federal Election Commission Special Inspector General for Afghanistan U.S. Department of Agriculture, Federal Housing Finance Board Reconstruction and Vice Chair Carl Clinefelter, Federal Labor Relations Authority Special Inspector General for Iraq Federal Maritime Commission Reconstruction Inspector General of the Farm Federal Reserve Board Department of State Credit Administration. The Federal Trade Commission Tennessee Valley Authority membership of the CIGIE General Services Administration Department of Transportation Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the Journal includes 73 inspectors general Government Accountability Office Department of Treasury of Public Inquiry are those of the authors. They from the following federal Government Printing Office Treasury Inspector General for Tax Journal agencies: Department of Health and Human Services Administration do not represent the opinions or policies of any Department of Homeland Security Special Inspector General for the Troubled department or agency of the U.S. government. of Public Inquiry Department of Housing and Urban Asset Relief Program Development Department of Veterans Affairs LETTER FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Time and information are prevailing currencies in the digital age. The federal government capitalizes on technological advancements to create a more efficient environment and provides value for the American public through transparency and timeliness. This issue of the Journal of Public Inquiry showcases nine articles and one congressional testimony filled with innovative ideas from across the spectrum of inspectors general on how to best leverage new capabilities while effectively utilizing current ones — and ultimately working to ensure that the federal government is a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars. Developments in technology have created opportunities for outreach and collaboration within the federal government and the IG community. Barriers of time and distance have been broken down, allowing people to come together to solve problems and spot trends. The rewards of new technology are innumerable; however, it is not without risk. While the IG community continues to embrace technology as a means to further its mission, we must analyze risks and take the necessary steps to safeguard information and protect privacy. CIGIE has made great strides in this area over the past year. The Information Technology Committee has explored cloud computing contract concerns and developed recommended language to allow for IG access to data, has worked to identify IG community capabilities and needs in the area of computer forensics, and developed a new checklist for assessing conformity with computer forensics standards. The Homeland Security Roundtable has produced the Management Advisory Report on Cybersecurity, as well as a report on Recommended Practices for Office of Inspectors General Use of New Media, and is continuing with work in both of these areas. These initiatives are significant contributions that facilitate the ability of the IG community to analyze risk and leverage technology. Several articles in this issue of the Journal explore opportunities to incorporate technology as a way to bring together individuals in non-traditional formats to enact positive change and develop department-wide best practices. This issue also highlights the need to adapt the best practices of private industry sectors to government operations. Private industry incentivizes streamlining and simplifying business processes —“do more with less.” OIGs and their respective departments can address efficiencies in order to establish leaner business operations. Offices of Inspectors General should not forget the tools already available while looking toward the future. The effective usage of suspension and debarment programs discussed in this issue reiterates the value of administrative actions as well as dispelling common myths. Suspensions and debarments protect government interests by excluding companies and individuals that are not responsible from participating in federal contracts. This issue emphasizes the diverse areas of oversight of the IG community and our shared endeavor to detect and deter fraud, waste, and abuse, and promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in the federal government. I would like to thank the authors and editorial board for contributing their insight and expertise to this edition of the Journal. Lynne M. Halbrooks Acting Inspector General Department of Defense Department of Defense Inspector General Staff Editor-in-Chief Lynne M. Halbrooks Publisher John R. Crane Editor Jennifer M. Plozai Graphic Design Jacob A. Brown CIGIE Liaison David R. Gross Legal Editor Paul W. Knoth Editorial Asst. Jamie L. Critchfield Publication Asst. Eric S. Jewett Journal Editorial Board Gregory H. Friedman Inspector General Department of Energy J. Russell George Inspector General Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration Mary L. Kendall Acting Inspector General Department of the Interior Allison Lerner Inspector General National Science Foundation Richard Moore Inspector General Tennessee Valley Authority Kathleen S. Tighe Inspector General Department of Education Journal of Public Inquiry Returning America’s Art to America 1 Written by Inspector General Brian Miller General Services Administration Office of Inspector General Department of Defense Inspector General Staff OIG Launches “Innovative Practices” Website Tool 7 Written by Misha King Department of State Office of Inspector General Editor-in-Chief Lynne M. Halbrooks Publisher John R. Crane Improving Opportunities for Veteran-Owned Small 11 Business through the Federal Government Editor Jennifer M. Plozai Written by Belinda Finn and James O’Neill Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General Graphic Design Jacob A. Brown Innovative Approach to Solving Audit Issues: The CIGIE Liaison David R. Gross 19 Cooperative Audit Resolution and Oversight Initiative Written by Richard Rasa Legal Editor Paul W. Knoth Department of Education Office of Inspector General Editorial Asst. Jamie L. Critchfield The Role of the Postal Service in the Digital Age 25 Written by David Asher and Bruce Marsh Publication Asst. Eric S. Jewett U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General Suspension and Debarment Program: A Powerful Tool Journal Editorial Board 31 to Promote Contractor Accountability in Contingency Environments Gregory H. Friedman Written by Acting Inspector General Steven Trent and Brian Persico Inspector General Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction Department of Energy Suspension and Debarment: Debunking Myths and J. Russell George 37 Suggesting Practices for Offices of Inspectors General
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