The AOC Inspector General’s Statement of Management Opportunities and Performance Challenges (continued)

Introduction

As requested, this is the Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) annual Statement of Management Opportunities and Performance Challenges (Statement). This document identifies the Architect of the Capitol’s (AOC) most significant challenges and opportunities for improvement. The Statement is based on the results of our observations, audit and investigative efforts, as well as the AOC-contracted Financial Statements Audit. We are optimistic that AOC’s economy, efficiency and effectiveness would benefit greatly from AOC-wide emphasis on these challenges, led by AOC senior management. The risks of fraud, waste and abuse would be reduced through improved prevention and detection controls. We appreciate this opportunity to provide the Architect of the Capitol, the Chief Operating Officer and senior leadership with our unique perspective on areas that need increased management attention and decisive action.

The AOC Capitol Complex Master Plan, along with a Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan, includes a rank-ordered, deferred maintenance project list. This backlog of construction and maintenance is dependent upon increased funding. Limited resources are a challenge for the AOC and this funding challenge is not further addressed in this document, except to say that the efficient expenditure of the resources that are available is key to the AOC mission.

While recognizing AOC’s accomplishments in executing the core mission, amid fiscal constraints, the AOC must make progress in these challenge areas. The OIG believes that focusing senior leadership attention on the challenges enumerated below will help to improve service delivery; promote economy and efficiency; and also reduce the potential for fraud, waste and abuse in AOC operations. Management focus on these challenges will help ensure that finite AOC appropriations are carefully used to meet the needs of Congress and the Supreme Court of the United States.

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