Skip to main content
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).

Audit of NOAA Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund Grants to the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office

2019
OIG-19-006-A
Audit
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce

OIG performed an audit of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund Grants awarded to the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO). The objectives of our audit were to determine whether RCO (1) claimed allowable, allocable, and...

The Census Bureau Must Improve Its Implementation of the Risk Management Framework

2019
OIG-19-002-A
Audit
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce

The objective of this audit was to determine whether the risk management framework methodology adopted by the U.S. Census Bureau (Bureau) presents an accurate picture of cyber security risks, including risks associated with common controls, to Bureau management.

Audit of NOAA Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund Grants to the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission

2018
OIG-18-026-A
Audit
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce

Our objectives were to determine whether the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission (1) claimed allowable, allocable, and reasonable costs, (2) complied with grant terms and conditions, administrative requirements, cost principles, and audit requirements, and (3) met performance requirements of the...

NIST Should Improve Controls for Monitoring R&D Grants and Cooperative Agreements

2018
OIG-18-025-A
Audit
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce

This report provides the results of our audit to assess the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) use of $300 million allocated by the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (the Act) for public safety communications research and development (R&D). The objective of...

The Joint Polar Satellite System: Program Must Use Realistic Schedules to Avoid Recurrence of Ground Project Delays and Additional Cost Increases

2018
OIG-18-024-A
Audit
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce

OIG's objective was to assess the cost, schedule, and technical performance of selected components of the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) program. Specifically, the objective was to assess the JPSS ground project’s efforts to complete the Block 2.0 upgrade of the ground system. OIG also set out...

Census Bureau Could Improve Monitoring of Blanket Purchase Agreements by Complying with Key Federal Acquisition Regulation and Commerce Requirements

2018
OIG-18-023-A
Audit
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce

OIG's audit objective was to determine whether the Census Bureau established and administered blanked purchase agreements in accordance with laws, regulations, and agency guidance.

Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018: Oversight Challenges Facing the Economic Development Administration

2018
OIG-18-022
Review
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce

The report represents the first product in OIG’s review of the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) implementation of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (the Act). The purpose of this report is to highlight key EDA oversight challenges and best practices—based on prior OIG reports and other...

Polar Follow-On: NOAA Must Maintain Cost Efficiencies and Refine Launch Strategy for JPSS-3 and JPSS-4 Missions

2018
OIG-18-021-A
Audit
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce

Our objectives were to (1) assess the maturity of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) Polar Follow-On program missions’ system design for indications of cost, schedule or performance issues that would threaten the ability of the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) program to...

Semiannual Report to Congress, March 2018

2018
SAR-2018-03
Semiannual Report
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce

This report summarizes work we initiated and completed during this semiannual period on a number of critical Departmental activities. Over the past 6 months, our office completed 14 audits, inspections, responses to Congressional requests, and public investigative reports—as well as 1 Congressional...

Department of Commerce Working Capital Fund Billing Practices and Transparency Need Improvement

2018
OIG-18-020-A
Audit
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce

We conducted an audit to evaluate controls over the Working Capital Fund in FY 2016. Specifically, we sought to determine whether (1) there were effective controls over the billing and algorithm development processes, (2) relationships of reimbursements and billings to services provided were...

Subscribe to Department of Commerce OIG