Download or read book Overseas Real Property State Department Needs to Improve Guidance and Records Management written by David J. Wise and published by U.S. Government Accountability Office. This book was released on 2015-09-25 with total page 37 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What GAO Found GAO's analysis of the overseas real property portfolio of the Department of State (State) indicates that the overall inventory has increased in recent years. State reported that its leased properties, which make up about 75 percent of its inventory, increased from approximately 12,000 to 14,000 between 2008 and 2013. State's numbers of federally owned properties increased, but comparing the total number of owned properties from year to year can be misleading because State's method of counting these properties has been evolving over the past several years. Specifically, according to State officials, they have been revising their method for counting properties to produce more precise counts and to meet reporting guidance from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), among others. For example, State began counting separately structural assets previously included as part of another building's assets, such as guard booths or perimeter walls, and consequently reported approximately 650 additional structural assets in fiscal year 2012 than in 2011, and approximately 900 more structures in 2013. State officials told GAO that they consider many factors in managing real property; however, GAO found State's available data and documentation on management decisions were limited. State officials said that they work with overseas posts to identify and dispose of unneeded properties, primarily using factors in State's Foreign Affairs Manual ( FAM ) guidance. Such factors include identifying properties deemed obsolete or with excessive maintenance costs. State collects data on costs associated with unneeded properties identified for disposal, relying on posts to charge all such costs to a specific accounting code. The four posts GAO visited did not use this code consistently. For example, officials at one post charged some disposal costs to a routine maintenance account. Officials at the other posts with properties for sale used the code to charge all related disposal costs. GAO also found that other posts with unneeded properties identified for disposal in fiscal year 2013 had not charged expenses to this account. The guidance provided in the FAM for using this code does not detail the types of costs that can be charged. This omission raises questions about the extent to which posts use the code as State intends and the extent to which State receives accurate and comprehensive cost information about its unneeded properties. State, without accurate data on unneeded property, may not have the information it needs to make a decision about property offers when attempting to maximize revenue for property sales. Also, posts may not have sufficient funding for routine property maintenance if they use funds designated for this type of maintenance on unneeded property. GAO requested to review 202 files between fiscal year 2008 through 2013 on acquisitions (72), disposals (94), and leases (36), but was provided 90, as State told GAO that these files were not centrally located and too time consuming to find and provide during the time frame of our review. State provided most of what it considers “core” documents for the acquisition and disposal files, but these documents do not constitute all of the documentation listed in the FAM and OMB guidance. In addition, although State provided all 36 of the requested lease files, some documentation that State agreed to provide was missing for 30 of the 36 files. Without the missing files and documentation, it is unclear how efficiently and effectively State is managing its overseas real property. Why GAO Did This Study The Department of State (State) holds or leases about 70-million square feet of real estate in about 275 posts worldwide and has the authority to construct, acquire, manage, and dispose of real property abroad. GAO was asked to review State's management of overseas real property. This report examines: (1) what is known about State's overseas real property inventory, and (2) what factors State considers in managing its overseas real property portfolio and to what extent it documents its decision-making process pertaining to real property. GAO requested 202 files for all acquisitions, disposals, and major leases pertaining to State's management of its real property abroad for the period from 2008-2013. In addition, GAO interviewed State officials in headquarters and at four posts abroad, selected because they had (1) ongoing or recently completed embassy construction or renovation projects without property disposals, (2) properties reported as identified for disposal for multiple years without being disposed, and (3) both owned and leased properties. The results of the four case studies cannot be generalized for the purpose of this review. What GAO Recommends GAO recommends that the Secretary of State (1) clarify accounting code guidance for tracking expenses related to disposal of unneeded properties, and (2) take steps to collect and retain documents related to real property purchases, disposals, and leases in accordance with the FAM and OMB's guidance. State concurred with GAO's recommendations.

Download or read book State Department s Management of Overseas Real Estate written by United States. Congress. House. Committee on Government Operations. Legislation and National Security Subcommittee and published by . This book was released on 1989 with total page 66 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book State Department written by United States Accounting Office (GAO) and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-05-13 with total page 36 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: State Department: Efforts Under Way to Enhance Management of Overseas Real Property

Download or read book State Department written by United States. General Accounting Office and published by . This book was released on 1989 with total page 28 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book State Department written by United States Accounting Office (GAO) and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-05-31 with total page 34 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: State Department: Additional Actions Needed to Improve Overseas Real Property Management

Download or read book State Department Additional Actions Needed to Improve Overseas Real Property Management written by United States. General Accounting Office and published by . This book was released on 1995 with total page 16 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book The Department of State Has Continuing Problems in Managing Real Estate Overseas written by United States. General Accounting Office and published by . This book was released on 1978 with total page 64 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book State Department sale of unneeded overseas property has increased but further improvements are necessary written by and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 2002 with total page 31 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The U.S. government owns about 3,500 properties overseas at more than 220 locations, including embassy and consular office buildings, housing, and land. The Department of State is responsible for acquiring, managing, and disposing of these properties. In 1996, we reported that the State Department did not have an effective process for identifying and selling unneeded overseas real estate, and that decisions concerning the sale of some properties had been delayed for years because of parochial conflicts among the parties involved. 2 As a result, the State Department was retaining millions of dollars of unneeded real estate. To address this problem, we recommended that the State Department establish an independent panel to decide which properties should be sold. The Congress, noting our recommendation, directed the secretary of state to create an advisory board on real property management. In April 1997, the State Department created the Real Property Advisory Board to review disputed properties and make recommendations to the under secretary of state for management. 3.

Download or read book State Department s Management of Overseas Real Estate written by United States. Congress. House. Committee on Government Operations. Legislation and National Security Subcommittee and published by . This book was released on 1989 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Government Operations written by U S Government Accountability Office (G and published by BiblioGov. This book was released on 2013-06 with total page 32 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: GAO discussed the Department of State's management of: (1) overseas real property; and (2) the Diplomatic Security Construction Program. GAO noted that: (1) continuing problems with State's Office of Foreign Buildings Operations (FBO) included inadequate maintenance of overseas property and a lack of oversight and information systems to ensure efficient and effective use of resources at posts; (2) FBO oversight mechanisms did not fully address long-standing problems of noncompliance with established policies and standards in housing and other real estate programs; (3) FBO records indicated that only 15 percent of all overseas posts had been visited in the last 3 years, and 37 percent had been visited only once; (4) FBO is implementing two information systems to monitor post real estate programs more effectively, but until they are fully implemented, it remains unclear whether they will provide accurate data; (5) State has not developed any master plans that adequately link current programs with its long-range foreign policy plans; and (6) problems with the diplomatic security construction program included long-range planning, poor cost estimates, project cost increases and schedule delays, and insufficient technical personnel. GAO believes that the FBO program will need continued monitoring and oversight to improve management and strengthen controls over real property and construction programs.

Download or read book Management of Overseas Real Property written by United States. General Accounting Office and published by . This book was released on 1992 with total page 40 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book The Department of State Has Continuing Problems in Managing Real Estate Overseas written by United States. General Accounting Office and published by . This book was released on 1978 with total page 60 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Overseas Real Property written by United States Government Accountability Office and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2017-12-27 with total page 38 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Overseas Real Property: State Department Needs to Improve Guidance and Records Management

Download or read book State Department written by United States. General Accounting Office and published by . This book was released on 1991 with total page 32 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book State Department written by and published by . This book was released on 1991 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book State Department written by United States. General Accounting Office and published by . This book was released on 1989 with total page 22 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book State Department written by U S Government Accountability Office (G and published by BiblioGov. This book was released on 2013-06 with total page 30 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In response to a congressional request, GAO examined the Department of State's management of U.S.-owned and leased overseas properties, focusing on State's: (1) implementation of its housing standards; (2) building maintenance program; (3) development of a management information system; and (4) procedure for acquiring and disposing of overseas government properties. GAO found that State: (1) failed to follow its own housing standards when leasing housing units for its overseas personnel; (2) acquired above-standard housing in seven countries it reviewed, which resulted in excess costs; (3) could not justify its use of above-standard housing or its authorization of such housing standards; (4) estimated that it needed about $1 billion to repair neglected and deteriorating overseas housing units; (5) technical personnel had limited experience in real estate activities, and did not give high priority to controlling or enforcing space standards; (6) has not fully implemented its Real Estate Management System (REMS) at most overseas posts, and REMS data were inaccurate and incomplete; and (7) did not develop plans for acquiring and disposing of government-owned properties overseas due to a lack of funds and continuity of assignments.