New Audit Announcements

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The Maritime Administration (MARAD) operates the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), a Federal service academy whose students become licensed Merchant Marine officers and commissioned officers in the Armed Forces. Previous audits by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (OIG) have identified weaknesses in MARAD’s and USMMA’s acquisition policies and practices. Furthermore, in 2017, two USMMA employees were found guilty of steering contracts to preferred vendors in exchange for kickbacks. Due to concerns highlighted by the past criminal activity, and GAO and OIG reports, we are initiating an audit of USMMA’s acquisition function. Our objective will be to assess contract award and administration policies, procedures, and practices for MARAD’s USMMA acquisitions.