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Open Recommendations

Small Business Research Programs: Clearer Guidance Could Improve Award Data to More Effectively Measure Outcomes
GAO-25-107942
Sep 23, 2025
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Small Business Administration The Administrator of SBA should develop formal definitions for open and conventional topics and provide that guidance to participating agencies to encourage the consistent categorization of topic types in SBIR and STTR solicitations. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Fishery Disaster Assistance: Process is Changing, but Challenges Remain to Improve Timeliness and Communication [Reissued with revisions on Jun. 25, 2025]
GAO-25-107076
Jun 25, 2025
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3 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
National Marine Fisheries Service The Assistant Administrator for NMFS should provide access to the tracking system to staff working on the fishery resource disaster program and use information from this system to update the program website. (Recommendation 1)
Open
NOAA agreed with this recommendation and said it would grant access to the tracking system to regional staff involved in the fisheries resource disaster program and that it would work to ensure that up to date information is available on its website. GAO will continue to monitor the actions NOAA takes in response to this recommendation.
National Marine Fisheries Service The Assistant Administrator for NMFS should provide more detailed information on NMFS' website about the fishery resource disaster process to clarify the requirements for documents submitted by requesters, such as requests for fishery resource disaster assistance and spend plans. (Recommendation 2)
Open
NOAA agreed with this recommendation and said it was working to make information more readily available on its website. GAO will continue to monitor the actions NOAA takes in response to this recommendation.
National Marine Fisheries Service The Assistant Administrator for NMFS should assess whether staffing capacity is sufficient to administer the fishery resource disaster program. (Recommendation 3)
Open
NOAA agreed with this recommendation and said it will evaluate whether the staffing capacity across the agency is sufficient to administer the the program. GAO will continue to monitor the actions NOAA takes in response to this recommendation.

Disaster Loan Program: Enhanced Procedures and Data Needed to Address Duplication of Benefits
GAO-25-107608
May 22, 2025
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2 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Small Business Administration The Administrator of SBA should ensure that the Associate Administrator for the Office of Capital Access develops documented procedures for resolving cases of duplicative benefits after a disaster loan has begun disbursement. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Small Business Administration The Administrator of SBA should ensure that the Associate Administrator for the Office of Capital Access enhances the collection and accessibility of data on cases of duplication of benefits in disaster loans and their resolution. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Indian Affairs: Additional Actions Needed to Address Long-standing Challenges with Workforce Capacity
GAO-25-106825
Nov 13, 2024
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7 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Bureau of Indian Affairs The Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs should, by March 2027, collect lessons learned regarding the use and sufficiency of funds for administrative costs associated with legislation that provides funds for Tribes outside of baseline appropriations and share these lessons with Interior and Congress. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Bureau of Indian Affairs The Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs should track vacancy data across Indian Affairs in a systematic and centralized manner. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Bureau of Indian Affairs The Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs should identify skills, knowledge, and competency gaps in mission-critical occupations across Indian Affairs. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Bureau of Indian Affairs The Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs should develop consolidated written guidance that clarifies what hiring authorities, recruitment incentives, and workforce flexibilities can be leveraged for recruitment and retention purposes. (Recommendation 4)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Bureau of Indian Affairs The Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs should develop a proposal that identifies capacity-building opportunities and the resources necessary to pursue them and share the proposal with Interior for consideration. (Recommendation 5)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Bureau of Indian Affairs The Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs should develop a proposal that identifies legislative opportunities to build capacity and the resources necessary to pursue them and share the proposal with Congress for consideration. (Recommendation 6)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
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