http://www.oig.dot.gov/rss.jsp?agency=1 The 10 most recent releases on the U.S. DoT OIG web site ... OST en-US webmaster@oig.dot.gov (OIG Webmaster) http://www.oig.dot.gov/images/dot.gif http://www.oig.dot.gov/rss.jsp?agency=1 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2580 At the request of Representative John Mica, the Ranking Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, we will initiate an audit on job creation and reporting associated with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). Our audit objecitves are to determine whether (1) Aiport Improvement Program, and Facilities and Equipment projects funded under ARRA are preserving and creating jobs; and (2), the reporting of job data satisfies ARRA requirements. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2580 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2573 On November 16, we issued a quality control report on the audit of the Department of Transportations (DOTs) Fiscal Years 2009 and 2008 consolidated financial statements. Clifton Gunderson LLP, under contract to us and under our supervision, issued a clean (unqualified) audit opinion. However, Clifton Gunderson indentified five internal control significant deficiencies and one instance of noncompliance with laws and regulations. Complete financial statements will be included in DOTs Performance and Accountability Report, which also will contain a copy of the Clifton Gunderson, LLP report. This page will be updated when the link is available. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2573 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2574 On November 16, we issued our annual report on the top management challenges facing the Department in FY 2010. The issues comprising this years report are: maximizing the Departments transportation economic recovery investments; enhancing surface safety programs to reduce injuries and fatalities while defining a new federal role in transit safety; maximizing Federal surface infrastructure investments by helping states better allocate resources and proving effective oversight; addressing human factors and strengthening the regulatory and oversight framework for aviation safety; moving toward the Next Generation Air Transportation System and improving performance of the National Airspace System; improving contract management and oversight; enhancing the ability to combat cyber attacks and improving the governance of information technology resources; developing a funding framework for the next surface transportation reauthorization; strengthening the Departments acquisition workforce; and successfully implementing the newly created multibillion dollar highspeed intercity passenger rail program.This report was included in the Departments Performance and Accountability Report, as required by law. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2574 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2582 The Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a management advisory to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on a potentially serious safety issue related to the adequacy of foundations at a segment of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project. This issue remains unresolved a year after we first brought it to FTAs attention in a November 2008 Hotline complaint. A credible source contacted OIG asserting that the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, the project sponsor, had not conducted sufficient testing on eleven pier foundations and their underlying steel piles that were built 30 years ago, and will support a portion of the projects new guiderail. The FTAs response to our Hotline complaint was incomplete and inconsistent with subsequent engineering information that FTA provided to us. In our management advisory, we prompted FTA to conduct a review of project management performance to assess whether adequate oversight is being conducted on the project. In addition, we urged FTA to develop a plan outlining how it will ensure that sufficient testing of the existing foundations will take place before additional construction is undertaken at the locations in question. Finally, we encouraged FTA to outline additional steps it plans to take to enhance future oversight of the project. We will consider actions taken as a result of this management advisory as part of our planned audit of FTAs Dulles Project oversight, which we announced on November 19, 2009. Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2582 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2549 The Office of Inspector General is initiating an audit of the Department of Transportations (DOT) acquisition function. This effort is part of our riskbased oversight strategy developed to assist DOT address management challenges in its acquisition function. Our objective will be to assess DOTs acquisition function and identify vulnerabilities that could impact DOTs ability to implement an effective and efficient approach consistent with best practices that include Office of Management and Budget guidelines on conducting acquisition assessments under Circular A123. Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2549 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2554 The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 designated $20 million to the Department of Transportation (DOT) Office of Inspector General through Fiscal Year 2013 to conduct audits and investigations of DOT projects and activities funded by ARRA. The Office of Inspector Generals Recovery Act Work Plan provides an overview of its Recovery Act goals, risk assessment process, funds, hiring plan, and audit plan Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2554 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2548 On October 7, 2009, we issued our monthly American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Financial and Activity Report for the month of September 2009. The report summarizes our ARRA and nonARRA funds spent related to our ARRA oversight activities. The report also describes ARRA major actions, both taken to date and planned by our office and provides a list of our ARRA training events and outreach efforts. Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2548 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2547 On October 6, 2009, we issued our report on the Department of Transportation Operating Administrations plans for ensuring Recovery Act fund recipients submit accurate, complete, and timely data on the use of these funds, as required by Section 1512 of the Recovery Act. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance states that starting October 22, 2009, Federal agencies are to perform a limited data quality review of recipient information and notify the recipients of two key data problemsmaterial omissions and significant reporting errors. Our audit objective was to determine whether the Departments Operating Administrations have established processes to perform such reviews and notify recipients of the need to make appropriate and timely changes. We found that the Departments Operating Administrations overseeing the implementation of the Recovery ActFederal Aviation Administration (FAA), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and Maritime Administration (MARAD)have taken steps to ensure that Recovery Act recipients comply with Section 1512 reporting requirements. These steps range from conducting outreach to recipients regarding the specific reporting requirements to drafting processes for performing limited data quality reviews. Each Operating Administration aims to have a process in place before conducting the reviews, and as of September 25, 2009, two of five Operating AdministrationsFAA and FTAhave drafted processes. However, it is too early to determine whether these processes will adequately identify omissions and significant reporting errors. As we continue to conduct our Recovery Act work, we will monitor the Operating Administrations progress, and may conduct additional work of the adequacy of Operating Administrations and recipients internal control procedures for ensuring data quality. Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2547 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2542 On October 1, 2009, we issued our final report on the general, application, and operational controls over the DOT Enterprise Services Center. OIG hired a CPA firm to perform this review in accordance with the Statement of Auditing Standard No. 70, which is required by OMB for agencies designated as Federal Service Providers to provide crossagency services. The audit covered Delphi Financial Management System operations, which are used by multiple Federal agencies; and the Consolidated Automation System for Time and Labor Entry (CASTLE), which is used to support DOT operations only. The audit concluded that managements description of controls presents fairly, in all material respects, the controls that have been placed in operation and controls are suitably designed. In addition, controls were operating effectively except in the areas of logical access and segregation of duties concerning CASTLE system operations. Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2542 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2540 The Office of Inspector General has identified nine top management challenges for the Department of Transportation (DOT) for FY 2010. When issued, this report and the Departments response will be incorporated into the DOT Performance and Accountability Report, as required by law. Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2540