Q&A
Confidence in centralizing oversight under VIU
2:27:55
·
72 sec
Council Member Julie Won asks about the confidence in centralizing oversight for compliance under the Vendor Integrity Unit (VIU). Charles Diamond from MOCS responds, explaining the current state and future possibilities of VIU's role.
- Diamond expresses confidence in VIU's ability to centralize oversight for compliance
- He clarifies that VIU currently focuses on policy and procedural changes rather than enforcement
- Diamond notes that MOCS is open to considering an expanded role for VIU in the future, while acknowledging that agencies currently hold primary enforcement responsibilities
Julie Won
2:27:55
So you feel that do you feel confident that you will be able to centralize oversight for compliance with scale and governance under the VIU?
Charles Diamond
2:28:02
I think so.
2:28:03
In particular, as to the DOI report, I think we we certainly agree that that, that that is what what we should do, and it is what we have already started doing in creating that vendor integrity unit.
2:28:13
I would note, to be absolutely clear, and it's it's referenced in, in our response to the DOI report, that DOI does in in phrasing this, it it appears that they would envision some more enforcement roles for VI for this vendor integrity unit.
2:28:26
And chair 1, as you know very well, at MOX, we don't hold the contracts.
2:28:30
We are not the ones who necessarily have the tools to get in there.
2:28:32
But as the commissioner described, there are people on the ground at the agencies who are doing a lot of this.
2:28:37
To the extent that that is in the future state, we're we're open to considering that.
2:28:41
But to be clear, it is not the active state.
2:28:43
So the VIU that is currently at Mox is is is not out on the street enforcing contractual requirements because it's that's not the, the, paradigm.
2:28:52
As you know, agencies are the first line of defense there.
2:28:54
But we we are open to, I think Director Flores was saying this.
2:28:58
This is stage 1.
2:28:59
And there's a very much a blue sky thinking here in terms of, all issues of vendor responsibility and integrity.
2:29:05
This is stage 1, and we're open to seeing where this goes.
