Committee on Audit and Oversight (A&O)

CHARGE (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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. The Committee reviews the agency's strategic planning documents, which report on and communicate NSF's stewardship and outcomes-based performance.