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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

The U.S. Census Bureau Geography Division Lacks Complete Information for Project Costs and Has Not Fully Monitored GSS-I Goals

2016
OIG-16-029-A
Audit
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce

This report addresses the status of the Census Bureau’s (the Bureau’s) 2020 decennial program preparation and planning efforts. The Bureau maintains all known living quarters in the Master Address File (MAF). Each address in the MAF is linked to a geographic location in the Topologically Integrated...

NOAA Fisheries’ Alaska Regional Office Use of Contract Raises Issues Regarding Personal Services

2016
OIG-16-030-I
Inspection / Evaluation
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce

This report provides the results of our review of a complaint received in January 2015 from a confidential complainant regarding the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS, or NOAA Fisheries) Alaska Regional Office’s use of grants and...

2020 Census: The Bureau Has Not Reported Test Results and Executed an Inadequately Designed 2015 Test

2016
OIG-16-032-A
Audit
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce

This is our final report on the audit of the 2015 Census Test conducted in portions of Maricopa County, Arizona. Our audit had two objectives: to assess (1) whether the Bureau’s reengineered and automated operational control system for managing fieldwork functioned as expected, and (2) the Bureau’s...

Awarding of U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Noncompetitive Contracts Did Not Consistently Follow Guidelines and Best Practices

2016
OIG-16-033-A
Audit
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce

Attached is our final report on USPTO’s contracts that were awarded using other than full and open competitive (“noncompetitive”) procedures. Our objective was to determine whether these noncompetitive contract awards were properly justified.

FirstNet Can Strengthen Its Controls by Documenting Procedures to Close and Track Interagency Agreements

2016
OIG-16-035-A
Audit
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce

This report provides the results of our most recent audit to evaluate the First Responder Network Authority’s (FirstNet’s) process for managing interagency agreements (IAAs), including entering into, monitoring, and closing IAAs.

Full Transition to the Nation’s Single Export Licensing System Is Uncertain

2016
OIG-16-037-A
Audit
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce

We conducted this audit to examine BIS’ progress in transitioning to USXPORTS. We began this audit with two objectives: to determine whether BIS was (1) effectively and efficiently managing its transition toward using USXPORTS to perform export licensing processing and (2) using effective and...

Review of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Sole-Source Contract Awarded to Industrial Economics, Inc. Regarding Gulf Oil Spill Expert Services

2016
OIG-16-036-I
Inspection / Evaluation
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce

This report details the results of our review of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) sole-source contract award to Industrial Economics, Incorporated. On April 20, 2010, an explosion on the British Petroleum (BP) Deepwater Horizon oil well drilling platform released...

USPTO Should Improve Controls Related to Equipment Used by Full-Time Teleworkers

2016
OIG-16-039-A
Audit
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce

This is our audit of the effectiveness of U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO’s) controls over information technology equipment issued to employees participating in the Patents Hoteling Program (PHP). The objective of our audit was to assess the effectiveness of USPTO’s controls over PHP...

Review of IT Security Policies, Procedures, Practices, and Capabilities in Accordance with the Cybersecurity Act of 2015

2016
OIG-16-040-A
Audit
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce

The Cybersecurity Act of 2015 (the Act) requires that each office of inspector general (OIG) submit a report to Congress on the national security systems and systems that provide access to personally identifiable information (PII) operated by or on behalf of its department. The objective of this...

CS China Operations Highlight Need to Strengthen ITA Management Controls

2016
OIG-16-041-A
Audit
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce

This is our final report on OIG’s audit of CS China operations. We conducted this audit as part of our FY 2015 audit plan. Our audit objectives were to (1) assess the roles and responsibilities of Commerce staff components in China and the adequacy of cost-sharing agreements; (2) assess the adequacy...

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