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AUDIT MEMORANDUM No. 30

June 19, 2003

To: Jayne Seidman

From: Walter Stachnik

Re: Priority to location of new offices in rural areas

In Audit Memorandum No. 22, we recommended that the Office of Administrative and Personnel Management (OAPM) establish and maintain policies and procedures giving first priority to the location of new offices and other facilities in rural areas, as required by Section 601 of the Rural Development Act (RDA) of 1972 (7 U.S.C. § 2204b-1).

The Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003, Public Law 108-7 (enacted February 20, 2003), required the Office of Inspector General in each agency to again report on compliance with this RDA requirement.

OAPM has not yet developed policies and procedures to implement our prior recommendation. Because the Commission is considering relocating two of its district offices (Boston and Salt Lake City) in the near future, development of appropriate policies and procedures should be given a high priority.

Recommendation A

Within 90 days from the date of this memorandum, OAPM should establish and maintain policies and procedures giving first priority to the location of new offices and other facilities in rural areas, as required by the RDA.

Recommendation B

OAPM should comply with the RDA requirement (and the policies and procedures OAPM establishes to implement the requirement) when deciding on the location of Commission offices and other facilities.

Management Response

OAPM indicated that it is revising its leasing procedures to incorporate the RDA requirement. OAPM has prepared documentation for the Boston District Office relocation that includes consideration of the RDA. It further indicated that it would prepare similar documentation for future relocations.

cc: George Brown
Don Sherman
Jim McConnell
Thomas McCool
Darlene Pryor
Peter Derby