CHARGE
Committee on Audit and Oversight
(Approved May 4, 2000)
The Audit and Oversight Committee (A&O) has three main
functions: general supervision of the NSF Inspector
General, as delegated by the Board; oversight of major
agency administrative processes and principal administrative
systems; and review of the agency's GPRA requirements.
As appropriate, A&O makes informal recommendations to
the Board for its full consideration and action.
I. Pursuant to the Inspector General Act of 1978 ("Act"),
as amended, and NSB delegation, A&O has general supervision
over the NSF Inspector General (IG) and its Office.
The IG's office serves as an independent and objective
unit responsible under the Act for:
- conducting and supervising audits relating to NSF's
programs and operations;
- providing leadership and coordination and recommending
policies for activities designed to promote economy,
efficiency and effectiveness and prevent and detect
fraud and abuse in the administration of NSF programs
and operations; and investigating cases involving
misconduct in science; and
- preparing and transmitting to the NSB, for forwarding
to the Congress, semiannual reports summarizing the
activities of the Office during the immediately preceding
six month periods ending March 31 and September 30.
II. A&O also provides the primary means for keeping
the NSB fully and currently informed of problems and
deficiencies relating to the administration of NSF programs
and operations and the necessity for and progress of
corrective action. The A&O Committee may report to the
NSB, as necessary, on:
- recommendations of all U.S. General Accounting
Office reports involving NSF, including follow-up
on subsequent performance;
- the Annual Audit Plan; significant audit findings
and recommendations; and
- special investigations into any matters concerning
the agency's compliance with the law, integrity or
ethics of its management, financial statements, or
adequacy of its internal accounting controls.
III. The Committee oversees the implementation by NSF
management of the agency's principal administrative
systems and internal controls, including:
- the Proposal and Award System, including a statistical
report on proposal disposition for each fiscal year,
the Director's annual report on merit review;
- the status of the agency's internal accounting
and administrative controls systems, as required by
applicable legislation;
- NSF's management information systems consistent
with applicable legislation; and
- the NSF personnel system, including its functioning
and effectiveness.
IV. The Committee reviews the agency's strategic planning
documents, which report on and communicate NSF's stewardship
and outcomes-based performance.
|