Agency Recovery Plan

Last updated: 2009-05-15
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• Number of Programs:22
  

Program Plans

Broad Recovery Goals

The Department will use the funds received under the Recovery Act on activities directly tied to achievement of Departmental strategic goals related to promoting the Nation’s security, preventing crime, and enforcing Federal laws. Expected outputs and outcomes related to the Recovery Act funding, which are detailed in each Program-specific Plan, will cover a broad range of activities, such as:

• Creating and retaining jobs;
• Preventing and control crime, including drug-related crime;
• Strengthening community policing;
• Supporting the work of states, tribal governments, and domestic violence coalitions on matters related to violence against women; and
• Reducing drug and weapons trafficking and violence on the southwest border

Competition on Contracts

The vast majority of Recovery Act funding for Departmental programs (approximately 99 percent of the $4.0 billion) is to be used for grants, not contracts. Notwithstanding, as required by OMB’s guidance for implementing the Recovery Act, the Department will maximize competition whenever practicable for any contracts funded under the Act. The Department does not anticipate a decline in the rate of competition. For the Departmental components receiving Recovery Act funding, the rate of competition in FY 2008 was 82 percent (percentage of dollars competed). The estimated competition rate for contracts funded under the Act is 96 percent. Should the components make any awards for non competitive set-asides under section 8(a) of the Small Business Act, a summary of any such contracts, including the description of the supplies and services, will be posted in the special section of Recovery.gov.

Contract Type

The vast majority of Recovery Act funding for Departmental programs (approximately 99 percent of the $4.0 billion) is to be used for grants, not contracts. Notwithstanding, as required by OMB’s guidance for implementing the Recovery Act, the Department will maximize the use of fixed price contracts whenever practicable for any contracts funded under the Act. The Department does not anticipate a decline in the use of fixed-price contracts. The Departmental components receiving Recovery Act funding used firm fixed-price contracts for 15 percent of the dollars contracted in FY 2008. The estimated firm fixed-price usage rate for contracts funded under the Act is 36 percent.

Accountability Plan

The Department’s accountability framework for managing Recovery Act activities leverages and builds on existing accountability mechanisms within the Department, such as the annual internal control assessment for OMB A-123. The framework is comprised of various mechanisms, such as a governance structure and processes for managers to identify/mitigate risk, regularly review performance results, and ensure completion of corrective actions. As detailed below, the framework reflects the coordinated efforts among all offices and components with Recovery Act responsibilities to ensure effective achievement of the Act’s objectives.

Governance Structure. The Department established a top-down governance structure to support its implementation of the Recovery Act and manage the funds received. The structure includes a Governance Board, consisting of officials from the Office of the Associate Attorney General, OJP, COPS, OVW, and ATF and the Assistant Attorney General for Administration. The Board’s responsibilities include:
• Developing an implementation approach that establishes management accountability over Recovery Act funds
• Ensuring Recovery Act objectives and requirements are communicated clearly and achieved in a thorough, effective, and timely manner
• Monitoring prompt correction of weaknesses

Communications Strategy. The Department established a top-down communications strategy to address Recovery Act information needs and reporting requirements. The strategy establishes clear accountability for providing accurate, timely, and transparent reporting to stakeholders. A key aspect of the strategy is early reporting of risks and associated action plans to prevent major issues from occurring.

Risk Identification and Management. The Department developed a Risk Management Plan to provide a common framework for components to use in identifying and managing risks associated with Recovery Act activities. Components are required to complete the risk assessment and develop risk mitigation plans for significant risks.

Internal Control Assessment. The Department will evaluate the effectiveness of internal control over Recovery Act activities though existing review activities, including the Department’s annual assessment for OMB A-123. The annual assessment uses a top-down, risk-based approach, which focuses on the risks related to achieving program objectives and reliable financial reporting and assessing the controls to address those risks.

The Department’s FY 2009 Guidance for Implementation of OMB A-123 requires components to update business process documentation and test key controls for material business processes. For FY 2009, all material business processes requiring testing cover the processes involved with Recovery Act funds (e.g., Grants Management and Financial Reporting). The Department’s OMB A-123 Senior Assessment Team oversees the annual assessment and will monitor results related to Recovery Act funds.

Performance Monitoring. Each component receiving Recovery Act funds is responsible for monitoring performance related to the Act to ensure progress is on track to achieve program-specific and Recovery Act objectives. To facilitate performance monitoring from a Departmental perspective, each component’s performance monitoring mechanism is to include:
• Clear definitions of performance indicators
• Targeted levels of performance and milestones
• Source, method, frequency of data collection
• Weaknesses identified
• Accountable official

Corrective Action Implementation. Components are to use the Department’s existing FMFIA corrective action framework to ensure resolution of weaknesses related to Recovery Act funds. The framework includes assessing significance of weaknesses, developing corrective actions plans, and tracking the prompt and effective implementation of corrective actions. Guidance on the framework is provided in the Department’s FY 2009 Guidance for Implementation of OM


Source: Data provided by the Agency through the Office of Management and Budget.