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Open Recommendations

Small Business Research Programs: Additional Actions Needed to Incorporate Best Practices for Addressing Foreign Risks
GAO-26-107972
Jan 28, 2026
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26 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of the Air Force The Secretary of Air Force should ensure the SBIR and STTR programs inform awardees in a written statement that updated disclosures must be provided within 30 days of any substantive changes to the project. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Agriculture The Secretary of Agriculture should ensure the agency consistently communicates that disclosure does not mean denial to all its SBIR and STTR applicants through mechanisms such as disclosure form itself, the agency solicitation, or on a website as part of the application process. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Agriculture The Secretary of Agriculture should ensure the agency clearly outlines its designation of "covered individuals" that is available to SBIR and STTR applicants and program staff to ensure consistent access and understanding. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Agriculture The Secretary of Agriculture should ensure the SBIR and STTR programs inform awardees in a written statement that updated disclosures must be provided within 30 days of any substantive changes to the project. (Recommendation 4)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Agriculture The Secretary of Agriculture should assess SBIR and STTR applicants' cybersecurity practices, ensuring these assessments focus on basic small business safeguarding protocols and remain consistent with federal cybersecurity frameworks. (Recommendations 5)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Education The Secretary of Education should ensure the SBIR program informs awardees in a written statement that updated disclosures must be provided within 30 days of any substantive changes to the project. (Recommendation 6)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Consumer Protection: Actions Needed to Improve Complaint Reporting, Consumer Education, and Federal Coordination to Counter Scams
GAO-25-107088
Apr 08, 2025
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16 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Federal Bureau of Investigation The Director of FBI should lead a U.S. government effort to develop and implement a government-wide strategy to counter scams and coordinate related activities. This effort should be done in collaboration with the Director of CFPB, the Chair of FTC, the Secretary of the Treasury, and other agencies, as appropriate (through their designees). This effort should address issues such as a common definition for scams; consumer complaint reporting; related types/granularity/aggregation of data, risks, and responses; a government-wide estimate of this type of crime; and coordination of federal and business activities. As appropriate, and consistent with desired characteristics, a strategy should also define agency roles, responsibilities, and authorities; identify necessary resources; and identify any legislative, regulatory, or administrative changes needed to enable a comprehensive, coordinated response. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Federal Trade Commission The Chair of FTC should, in collaboration with CFPB, FBI, and other major contributors, explore ways to harmonize data collection and contributions to Sentinel to better identify scams, such as consistently collecting data on scam type, dollar loss amount, payment method, and other data fields, as appropriate. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau The Director of CFPB should, in collaboration with FTC, explore ways to harmonize data collection to better identify scams, such as consistently collecting data on scam type, dollar loss amount, payment method, and other data fields, as appropriate. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Federal Bureau of Investigation The Director of FBI should, in collaboration with FTC, explore ways to harmonize data collection to better identify scams, such as consistently collecting data on scam type. (Recommendation 4)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau The Director of CFPB should use the agency's data collection and analysis to produce and report an estimate of the number of complaints it receives and the associated financial losses resulting from scams. (Recommendation 5)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Federal Bureau of Investigation The Director of FBI should use the agency's data collection and analysis to produce and report an estimate of the number of complaints it receives and the associated financial losses resulting from scams. (Recommendation 6)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Small Business Pilot Program: SBA Has Opportunities to Evaluate Outcomes and Enhance Fraud Risk Mitigation
GAO-25-107067
Mar 27, 2025
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2 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Small Business Administration The Administrator of SBA should complete an outcome evaluation of the Navigator Program. The evaluation should include an assessment of the scalability of lessons learned from pilot activities and incorporate input from a broad array of SBA staff and partner organizations. (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, for its competitive grant programs, implement procedures to obtain relevant information from district office staff with knowledge of applicants. In doing so, the SBA Administrator should consider the stage of the review at which staff should obtain such information, how staff should identify and address potential bias, and how to communicate relevant assessment criteria in notices of funding opportunities. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

COVID-19 Relief: Improved Controls Needed for Referring Likely Fraud in SBA's Pandemic Loan Programs
GAO-25-107267
Mar 24, 2025
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Small Business Administration The SBA Administrator should collaborate with the SBA's OIG to develop an effective plan, including the data elements to be provided and the process to be used, for referrals of potential or likely COVID-19 EIDL fraud cases. (Recommendation 1)
Open
In March 2024, in its comment letter on the report, SBA agreed with the recommendation and noted that it has worked with SBA OIG to put an effective process in place. SBA's comment letter further noted that SBA will provide GAO with evidence of the efforts taken to put the plan in place. We will review this evidence once provided and will continue to monitor SBA's efforts in this area.
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