Federal Reports

We audited the costs billed to TVA by a contractor for providing professional engineering and technical support services associated with the restart of Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant (BFN) Unit 1. Our audit, which included $110 million of payments TVA made to the contractor from June 2004 through October 2007, found the contractor had overbilled or not credited TVA an estimated $276,484 for (1) home office labor and related costs that should have been covered by the contractor's overhead rate, (2) certain miscellaneous labor costs and markups that were not allowable, (3) unspent employee recognition costs, (4) home office computer and facility charges for some employees who did not meet the contract eligibility requirements, and (5) overbilled provisional payroll taxes and insurance. Additionally, we found that changes TVA made to the contract resulted in TVA paying $343,548 in excessive paid time off costs for certain contractor personnel assigned to the BFN Unit 1 project. Summary Only

We reviewed TVA's efforts to implement telework as well as any planned telework initiatives. Our review determined (1) Business Practice 20, Off-site Use of Business Equipment (BP 20), provides a framework for telework; however, we found little evidence of compliance with the policy, especially as related to required training and method of approval; (2) pockets of teleworkers exist throughout TVA; however, TVA has no system for tracking individuals who telework and the extent to which they telework; and (3) employees are approved to telework by being granted remote access to TVA systems instead of following the BP 20 approval process. We also reviewed TVA's Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) and Pandemic Plan and determined both adequately included the use of telework in those programs. However, the COOP does not require essential employees to take their laptop computers home in the evenings to ensure continuity of operations in the event they are unable to move to the alternative location during an emergency.We recommended the Chief Administrative Officer and Executive Vice President of Administrative Services (CAO) (1) work with other TVA organizations to determine which jobs and functions in TVA are conducive to telework; (2) consider a pilot program that would assist in future decisions about telework and identify ways to use telework to facilitate COOP planning and responding to emergency situations such as pandemics or natural disasters; (3) implement a telework policy that provides a method for approving employees to telework, appropriate training to supervisors and all employees authorized to telework, a tracking system for individuals who telework, and effective communication of TVA's telework policy to TVA employees; (4) consider designating a Telework Managing Officer; (5) consider requiring that essential employees take their laptop computers home at the end of their workday in the event an emergency occurs and they are unable to move to the alternative location.The CAO agreed to work with other TVA organizations to determine which jobs and functions in TVA are conducive to telework. Upon completion of that assessment, the CAO will take appropriate actions regarding our other recommendations.

EAC OIG, through the independent public accounting firm of Clifton Gunderson LLP, audited EAC's financial statements for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2008, and September 30, 2007.

EAC OIG, through the independent public accounting firm of Clifton Gunderson LLP, audited $158.5 million in funds received by the Florida Secretary of State under the Help America Vote Act. The objectives of the audit were to determine whether the Secretary of State (1) used payments authorized by Sections 101 and 251 of HAVA in accordance with HAVA and applicable requirements; (2) accurately and properly accounted for property purchased with HAVA payments and for program income; and (3) met HAVA requirements for Section 251 funds for an election fund and for a matching contribution.