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Website
https://www.oig.doc.gov/Pages/default.aspx
Abbreviation
DOC
Agencies
Department of Commerce
Federal Agency
Yes
Location

United States

What to Report to the OIG Hotline
Commerce OIG maintains a Hotline for receiving allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, or gross mismanagement in the Department of Commerce’s programs and operations, including any organization or entity receiving Departmental funds. The following is a list of examples of types of allegations that should be reported:
  • Contract and grant fraud
  • Environmental, health, and safety violations
  • Computer crimes (including internet pornography)
  • Product substitution and suspect/counterfeit parts
  • Bribery, kickbacks, and gratuities
  • False statements and false claims
  • Conflicts of interest and ethics violations
  • Travel fraud
  • Theft or abuse of government property
  • Gross mismanagement of funds
  • Other violations of federal laws and regulations
In addition, if you suspect that you have been retaliated against for whistleblowing, you may contact the Commerce OIG Hotline or the Office of Special Counsel.
What Not to Report to the OIG Hotline
Certain matters are better resolved through other channels, instead of the Commerce OIG Hotline. The following matters are NOT generally investigated by Commerce OIG:
  • 911 emergencies regarding a Departmental facility or operation. Report to the local or state law enforcement authorities and the Department of Commerce’s Office of Security.
  • Complaints of EEO discrimination and retaliation. Report to the Department of Commerce’s Office of Civil Rights.
  • Personal theft. Report to Department of Commerce’s Office of Security.
  • Personnel matters involving requests for individual relief. Report to the servicing Office of Human Resources Management.
  • Employment related grievances or complaints against management officials unless part of a whistleblower claim. Report to the servicing Office of Human Resources Management.
  • Assistance with the U.S. patent application process (e.g., initial filing, patent examination, and post-examination) and case prosecution concerns (e.g., claim objections, after-final practice, claim rejections and restrictions). Contact the Patents Ombudsman Office (https://www.uspto.gov/patent/ombudsman-program).
Hotline Page
https://www.oig.doc.gov/Pages/Online-Hotline-Complaint-Form.aspx
Whistleblower Protection Page
https://www.oig.doc.gov/Pages/Hotline.aspx

EDA Should Develop a Workforce Plan and Improve its Hiring Accountability to Successfully Award and Administer the Disaster Supplemental Funds Appropriated by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018

2020
OIG-20-014-A
Audit
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce

For our final report on our audit of the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA’s) Disaster Relief Workforce Planning, our audit objective was to determine whether EDA’s workforce planning process for awarding and administering the Disaster Supplemental funds was adequate and effective. We found...

Supplemental Memorandum on Report No. OIG-19-021-A, Audit of NOAA Financial Assistance Awards to the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission

2020
OIG-20-007-A
Audit
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce

This final memorandum addresses the results of our attempt to audit $5,030,452 that the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission (the Commission) paid to its subrecipient, the Gulf and South Atlantic Fisheries Foundation (GSAFF), under financial assistance award NA10NMF4770481 from the National...

NOAA’s Office of Marine and Aviation Operations Needs to Improve the Planning and Governing of Its Ship Fleet Recapitalization Effort

2020
OIG-20-006-A
Audit
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce

This is our final report on the audit of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) ship fleet recapitalization effort. Our objective was to determine whether NOAA OMAO performed effective acquisition planning for its construction of...

The Department Needs to Improve Its Capability to Effectively Share Cyber Threat Information

2019
OIG-19-026-A
Audit
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce

This report provides the results of our audit to assess the Department of Commerce’s (the Department’s) cybersecurity information sharing program, consistent with the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 (CISA). Our audit objective was to determine the capabilities and practices of the...

Top Management and Performance Challenges Facing the Department of Commerce

2019
OIG-19-004
Top Management Challenges
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce

The Office of Inspector General is required by statute to report annually the most serious management and performance challenges facing the Department of Commerce. Attached is our final report on the Department’s top management and performance challenges for fiscal year 2019.

Top Management and Performance Challenges Facing the Department of Commerce in FY 2020

2020
OIG-20-001
Top Management Challenges
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce

The Office of Inspector General is required by statute to report annually the most serious management and performance challenges facing the Department of Commerce. Attached is our final report on the Department’s top management and performance challenges for fiscal year 2020.

Audit of the Department’s Digital Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014 Submission for the First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2019

2020
OIG-20-004-A
Audit
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce

This memorandum accompanies the U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General report on the Department’s Digital Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014 (DATA Act) submission for the first quarter of fiscal year (FY) 2019. The DATA Act, in part, requires federal agencies to report...

Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) Summary Report of Inspectors General Efforts Under the Evaluation of the Implementation of Public Law 111-258, "Reducing Over-Classification Act"

2019
Other
Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency
Department of Commerce
Department of the Treasury
Department of Agriculture
Department of Health & Human Services
Environmental Protection Agency
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Department of State
U.S. Agency for International Development
Department of Transportation
Department of Justice
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Energy
Department of Defense

The objective of this report is to summarize key findings identified in 2013 reports and in 2016 followup reports produced by 13 Federal agency Offices of Inspectors General (OIGs) regarding original and derivative classification and Classified National Security Information (CNSI) program management...

USPTO Did Not Provide Adequate Oversight of Monetary Awards to Ensure Patent Examiners Receive Accurate Payments

2019
OIG-19-023-A
Audit
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce

Our audit objective was to determine whether the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office monetary awards were (a) granted in compliance with the relevant award criteria and (b) sufficiently documented. Our audit scope included awards related to patent examiners’ performance and productivity ratings in...

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