Oversight of the Agricultural Trade Promotion Program

Approve and implement a written policy that is designed to ensure FAS complies with Federal grant requirements, as well as published program regulations, when awarding grants. This policy should include, at a minimum, a merit reviewer conflict of interest policy and a policy to document decisions throughout the grant selection process, especially if deviations from the process occur. This policy should also include the assigned roles and responsibilities and the processes and procedures that FAS personnel will use to follow relevant grant and program regulations.

Develop and implement a plan to train personnel on how to perform their assigned roles and responsibilities as prescribed in the new grant policy. This plan should also include information and guidance on how and when to elevate issues for resolution at the appropriate level of responsibility.

Develop and implement a plan to ensure FAS personnel are held accountable for the roles and responsibilities assigned to them in this new policy related to ensuring compliance with all applicable Federal regulations when awarding grants.

Determine if the control issues over the ATP grant program that we identified in this report should be included in the agency’s FMFIA assurance statement.