We performed an audit of costs billed to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) by Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. for providing project planning, management, oversight, and environmental services to assist TVA in the recovery and remediation associated with the Kingston Fossil Plant Dredge Cell Incident. Our audit included about $37 million in costs billed to TVA from February 6, 2009, to December 31, 2011. Our audit objective was to determine if Jacobs billed TVA in accordance with the contract terms and conditions.We determined Jacobs overbilled TVA an estimated $15,667 including $9,285 in ineligible overtime labor costs and $6,382 in excessive and ineligible travel and miscellaneous costs. In addition, at the start of our audit, TVA was performing an assessment of temporary living allowance (TLA) costs billed and identified $84,628 in overbilled TLA costs. Jacobs disputed TVA's assessment and stated the overbilled costs were $64,785. We determined TVA's calculation of overbilled TLA costs was correct, and Jacobs subsequently agreed to refund $84,628 and issued a credit to TVA in its September 2012 invoice.We also found several instances of inadequate contract administration including (1) $266,788 paid by TVA for a labor classification, which was not included in the contract's "Schedule of Prices;" (2) $21,717 in additional travel costs paid by TVA because TLA compensation terms were not made part of the contract until January 1, 2010; and (3) failure by the contractor to obtain advance written approval from TVA prior to billing subcontractor TLA and relocation costs. Summary Only
Date Issued
Submitting OIG
Tennessee Valley Authority OIG
Other Participating OIGs
Tennessee Valley Authority OIG
Agencies Reviewed/Investigated
Tennessee Valley Authority
Report Number
2012-14395
Report Description
Report Type
Audit
Agency Wide
Yes
Questioned Costs
$0
Funds for Better Use
$0