Federal Reports

Our objective was to assess the efficiency of the U.S. Postal Service’s transportation consolidation of mail (loading, unloading, and trailer utilization) for long-haul Highway Contract Routes (HCR) for the Chicago and San Francisco Network Distribution Centers (NDC). We determined the Postal Service’s consolidation of long-haul HCR trips for the Chicago and San Francisco CDFs was inefficient.

Treasury OIG Travel Inquiry Memorandum to Inspector General Thorson

At the request of the Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA) Supply Chain, we examined the cost proposal submitted by a company for civil projects and coal combustion residual program management work at TVA's steam electric power plants. Our examination objective was to determine if the company's cost proposal was fairly stated for a planned <br> $300 million contract. In our opinion, the company's cost proposal was overstated. Specifically, we found the company's proposed costs for a Cumberland Fossil Plant (CUF) project and proposed unit rates for a Bull Run Fossil Plant (BRF) project included overstated temporary living assignment (TLA) costs, equipment costs, performance and payment bond costs, labor costs, and insurance costs. In addition, the company (1) understated its small tools rate for the CUF project due to errors in the company's estimate and (2) proposed a fee rate for the CUF project that exceeded the maximum allowable fee rate in TVA's request for proposal (RFP). We also found the company's proposed markup rate for employees who receive no benefits was overstated. We estimated TVA could avoid about $9.62 million on the planned $300 million contract by (1) negotiating appropriate reductions to TLA, equipment, performance and payment bond, labor, and insurance costs; (2) limiting the company's fee rate on the CUF project to the RFP's maximum allowable rate; and (3) negotiating appropriate reductions to unit rates in the BRF proposal. In addition, we suggest TVA negotiate revised markup rates for employees who receive no benefits. (Summary Only)

National Credit Union Administration OIG Semiannual Report to the NCUA Board and the Congress highlighting our accomplishments and ongoing work for the six-month period ending September 30, 2017.

This report summarizes work we initiated and completed during this semiannual period on a number of critical Departmental activities. Over the past 6 months—in addition to issuing our annual Top Management and Performance Challenges Facing the Department of Commerce—OIG completed nine audits, inspections, and public investigative reports. These products addressed programs and personnel associated with the Economic Development Administration (EDA), Economics and Statistics Administration (ESA), Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), and the Department itself.

On September 27, 2017, a former Amtrak electrician pleaded guilty in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, to theft of Amtrak property. He was sentenced to two days in jail (time considered served), two years of probation and was ordered to pay $1,199.57 in restitution.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted an audit of Amtrak’s (the company) website security program. Our audit objective was to assess whether current controls provide reasonable assurance that the company’s publicly accessible websites are secure.The company uses numerous information technology (IT) applications accessible to the public via the Internet. Given the company’s reliance on publicly accessible websites, we compared its practices for IT website security to leading practices from the private and public sectors, including those of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.