Federal Reports

The SBIR and STTR Extension Act of 2022 reauthorized the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. The Inspector General of a Federal agency that participates in the SBIR or STTR programs must submit an annual report to Congress describing its investigations involving those programs (15 U.S.C. Section 638b(c). Information in this report presents the OIG investigative information related to SBIR for FY 2023.

Legionnaires’ disease is caused by Legionella bacteria, found naturally in freshwater environments. The bacteria can become a health concern when spread through showerheads, faucets, ice machines, and hot water tanks in the water systems of large buildings. A 2017 CDC report concluded that one in every four people with healthcare associated Legionnaires’ disease dies.Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Directive 1061 establishes standards to prevent and control healthcare associated Legionnaires’ disease at VHA owned buildings where patients, residents, visitors, or staff stay overnight. The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) audited whether VHA is complying with the directive and effectively addressing the prevention and control of Legionella for potable water distribution systems.The OIG determined that the four VA medical facilities reviewed—in Salem, Virginia; Brooklyn, New York; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Dublin, Georgia—did not fully comply with VHA requirements on components of their healthcare-associated Legionella disease prevention plans, water safety testing validation collection, remediation actions, and reporting practices. VHA leaders also did not receive complete water safety test results needed for effective oversight. Additionally, VA medical facility leaders responsible for notifying clinical staff of Legionella conditions did not communicate positive test results to staff to ensure awareness of elevated diagnostic levels. Specifically, the OIG found incomplete healthcare associated Legionella disease prevention plans; inconsistent water sampling; noncompliance with remediation actions; and inconsistent test result reporting.The OIG made eight recommendations to improve oversight of Legionella water sampling, fix identified problems, and ensure Directive 1061 is followed.

This report presents the results of our audit of mail delivery, customer service, and property conditions review at the Louisiana District.

The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation Office of Inspector General (OIG) contracted with the independent public accounting firm RMA Associates, LLC (RMA) to conduct the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 (FISMA) audit of the United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 to evaluate the effectiveness of the DFC's information security program and practices, and determine what maturity level DFC achieved for each of the core metrics outlined in the FY 2023 - 2024 Inspectors General (IG) FISMA Reporting Metrics. Our objectives were to evaluate the effectiveness of the DFC's information security program and practices, and determine what maturity level DFC achieved for each of the core metrics outlined in the FY 2023 - 2024 IG FISMA Reporting Metrics.