http://www.oig.dot.gov/rss.jsp?agency=2 The 10 most recent releases on the U.S. DoT OIG web site ... RITA en-US webmaster@oig.dot.gov (OIG Webmaster) http://www.oig.dot.gov/images/dot.gif http://www.oig.dot.gov/rss.jsp?agency=2 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2440 On March 11, 2009, we issued our report on RITAs Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Joint Program Office (JPO). We assessed whether the JPO is effectively managing and overseeing the ITS program by (a) tracking project results and outcomes, (b) managing the ITS budget and overseeing contracts, and (c) providing direction and crossmodal coordination. While ITS initiatives have achieved DOTwide support, we found weaknesses in how the JPO measures project results, executes budget and contract procedures, and manages ITS research projects. Specifically, the JPO has not ensured that its contractors assessments of ITS projects have been useful, timely, or complete. In addition, contractors were producing costly, duplicative work. We also found the JPO was operating without documented budget procedures. As a result, ITS financial reports were not consistently reconciled in 2008, and nearly $20 million in unneeded funds was left on old contracts and agreements. Furthermore, we found the JPO lacked uniform project management standards and project benefitcost analyses; such procedures might have mitigated cost overruns and delays experienced by several ITS initiatives. Finally, we found that the JPO needs to address conflicts of interest, such as allowing the Volpe Center to both oversee and administer the Safe Trip21 project.Our recommendations to JPO focus on: (1) strengthening the ITS assessment program, (2) restructuring support contractor services, (3) documenting budget procedures, (4) coordinating with FHWA to deobligate nearly $20 million in unneeded funds on old contracts and agreements, and (5) strengthening project management by requiring uniform procedures and benefitcost analyses. We also recommend that RITA transfer oversight of the Safe Trip21 project from Volpe to the JPO to avoid conflicts of interest and to comply with DOT Order 2300.8. Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2440 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2338 On August 14, 2008, we issued an interim report regarding the Volpe National Transportation Systems Centers Transportation Information Project Support (TRIPS) contract as a part of our ongoing audit of the Use of CostPlusAwardFee (CPAF) contracts within the Department. We found that the performance evaluation plan did not include measurable criteria needed to adequately evaluate contractor performance. Further, the descriptions defining adjectival ratings were vague and inconsistent and did not clearly define the basis for rating performance. This resulted in performance monitors arbitrarily determining which ratings they believed best reflected how well the contractor performed.The effect of having evaluation criteria without clearly defined metrics, and vague and conflicting adjectival ratings, could result in inflated contractor performance evaluations and inappropriately approved award fees. Additionally, contracting officials did not justify the costeffectiveness of selecting a CPAFtype contract by evaluating administrative costs versus expected benefits to the government. Without this evaluation, Volpe had no assurance that a CPAFtype contract was appropriate. Senior Volpe officials are implementing actions to meet the intent of our recommendations by clearly identifying measurable awardfee criteria for assessing contractor performance. We also recommend Volpe acquisition officials reevaluate the use of awardfee contracts for future TRIPS procurements. Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2338 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2235 The Office of Inspector General plans to audit the Intelligent Transportation Systems/Joint Program Office (ITS/JPO). Our audit objective is to assess whether the JPO is effectively overseeing the ITS program through its efforts to: (1) provide strategic direction and crossmodal program coordination; (2) manage the ITS research budget; and (3) monitor program status, results, and outcomes. Thu, 07 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2235 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2121 On September 7, we issued our review of congressional earmarks within Department of Transportation programs. In August 2006, Senator Coburn requested that we conduct an independent analysis of congressional earmarks. Consistent with Senator Coburns request, we determined (1) the total number and amount of earmarks within DOT for FY 2006, (2) the inclusion of earmarks in DOTs annual planning and project evaluation processes, and (3) the effects of earmarks on DOTs mission and goals.Overall, we identified 8,056 earmarked projects within the Departments programs that received more than $8.54 billion for FY 2006. Our review of 7,760 earmarked projects valued at $8.05 billion within Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, and Federal Aviation Administrationwhich accounted for 99 percent of these earmarked projectsdisclosed that 7,724 of the 7,760 projects either were not subject to the agencies review and selection processes or bypassed the states normal planning and programming processes. There were earmarked projects we reviewed that were evaluated as "highest" priority projects and would have been fully funded regardless of being earmarked. However, many earmarked projects considered by the agencies as low priority are being funded over higher priority, nonearmarked projects; and other earmarks are providing funds for projects that would otherwise be ineligible. We are not making any recommendations in this report as the nature of this review was to conduct and independent analysis of the amount and impact of congressional earmarks for the most recent fiscal year. Fri, 07 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2121 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2114 On August 29, 2007, we issued our report on incurredcost audits of DOT procurement contracts. The report discusses the Departments initiative to use a new structured approach for obtaining incurredcost audits of procurement contracts. However, we found that Operating Administrations had made little progress in obtaining these audits. Additionally, we found that although the Department has recovered over $4 for every audit dollar spent on these audits, contracting officers have not taken consistent actions in a timely manner to recover overpayments made to contractors. We reported that the Department has the potential to recover between $8 million and $10.3 million more in these overcharges. We recommended that the Department require Operating Administrations to review their fiscal year 2007 audit plans and document revisions, and ensure that audits are obtained and audit reports are resolved in accordance with departmental guidance. The Department generally agreed with our recommendations and also agreed that our estimated savings was reasonable for tracking purposes. Wed, 29 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2114 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2091 On August 1, we issued a final report on the review of Volpe Centers IT security and resource management. While Volpe has established adequate firewall security to protect its IT infrastructure from intrusion or unauthorized access from the Internet, its computers remained vulnerable to attacks by insidersemployees, contractor staff, etc. Also, Volpe did not test its capability to resume system operations at its designated recovery site. In case of disruptions, both Volpe and its customer systems might be affected. Finally, Volpe has made good progress in leveraging departmental resources for more efficient operations. We identified two additional opportunities that could enable Volpe to further reduce costs by using departmental resources. Volpe management has concurred with our conclusions and stated that the majority of the recommendations have already been either fully or partially addressed. It is developing comprehensive plans to implement all remaining recommendations. Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=2091 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=1938 Mon, 08 May 2006 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=1938 http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=1524 The United States Attorney, District of Massachusetts announced that Arthur D. Little, Inc. (ADL), now known in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings as Dehon, Inc., entered into a $6.5 million settlement agreement with the U.S. Attorneys Office in Boston to resolve civil claims. ADL fraudulently billed 35 federal agencies by inflating its indirect costs and overhead charges on government contracts by an estimated $14 million between 1995 and 2000. DOTs (FAA and RSPA) contracts held with ADL were valued at about $11 million. A federal bankruptcy judge approved the $6.5 million settlement agreement on March 15, 2005. This investigation was conducted jointly with DCIS, EPAOIG, the U.S. Army CID, and the FBI, with assistance from DCAA. Thu, 24 Mar 2005 00:00:00 GMT http://www.oig.dot.gov/item.jsp?id=1524