Federal Reports

The Office of the Inspector General initiated a review of the Energy Services Company (ESCO), currently known as the Federal Energy Services Program. The objective of the review was to evaluate whether the program was meeting its intended purpose of providing energy efficiency for the customer. TVA was unable to provide documentation to allow determination of the amount of actual energy efficiency achieved, specifically by ESCO, for two of the three current customers participating in the program. As a result, we were unable to determine the total impact of ESCO in providing energy efficiency for the customer and the degree ESCO supported the accomplishment of TVA's 2020 vision of greater energy efficiency. Also, as part of the audit, we assessed TVA GOES (government, oversight, execution, and support) and business case documentation and found that while substantial improvements were being made to the program, programmatic gaps and other opportunities for improvement existed.

The Office of the Inspector General evaluated the effectiveness of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) processes for identifying and managing actual and potential environmental issues and risks. TVA's Environmental Management System (EMS) program was established to manage environmental impacts of TVA operations and help fulfill commitments of TVA's Environmental Policy. Within this purpose, EMS plays a significant role in managing environmental risks across TVA and sustaining a high level of environmental compliance in TVA operations.Generally, TVA had effective processes for identifying and managing actual and potential environmental issues and risks. However, we noted areas where environmental risk management processes can be strengthened as of the end of FY2013. Specifically, we found environmental risks identified for business planning could be more comprehensive, more clearly identified, and integrated agency wide in order to help ensure their recognition and resource availability. In addition, weaknesses in environmental review processes increase TVA risks and can be strengthened to demonstrate regulatory compliance and due diligence in assessing the potential environmental impacts of proposed agency decisions.Many positive aspects of the EMS program were evident and demonstrated effectiveness of functions related to environmental risk management. However, we determined opportunities for enhancing TVA's EMS exist in communicating with regulators, coordinating planning processes, emergency response preparedness, environmental training, and sharing lessons learned.We recommended process improvements related to identifying risks and integrating environmental information sources, system enhancements to strengthen environmental reviews, and enhancements to EMS functions. By implementing our recommended actions, TVA can improve process efficiencies that will help sustain EMS effectiveness in the face of current challenges and impacts from budget constraints.

The audit objectives were to determine whether program funds were managed in accordance with the ARC and Federal grant requirements

During a prior review of how TVA organizations assess the condition of its assets, we learned that asset condition assessments done by the Fossil Power Group (FPG) determined some generation assets were in poor condition. As a follow up to this prior work, we initiated a review to determine whether TVA was taking actions to address FPG systems and programs with poor ratings.We found actions were taken to address some programs and systems with poor health. We identified that 785 out of 1,617 programs and systems within FPG had been rated red or yellow and randomly selected 35 programs and systems for detailed review. Actions taken by FPG to address the poor health resulted in an improvement in color rating or overall health of 17 programs and systems. However, there was no upgraded rating or improvement in system health for 18 systems. Of these 18 systems, 7 had no actions completed, while 11 had some actions completed without improvement in system health. The major reason cited for not completing actions was lack of funding.We also found system health reports were not completed or documented and required program health reports could not be provided. Additionally, FPG-SPP-09.045, Performance of Engineering Programs, and FPG-SPP-09.030.03, System Health Reports, were superseded by engineering guidance documents which have no requirements, only recommendations. This may increase the number of health reports not completed or not completed in a timely manner. The absence of accurate and timely equipment health reports could make it more difficult for TVA to effectively manage equipment reliability risk.We recommended the Senior Vice President, Power Operations, (1) document justification when actions are not taken to address systems and programs with red and yellow ratings, (2) reinforce the importance of consistent documentation of system health reports, and (3) consider the potential impact of eliminating the requirement to do asset health assessments on TVA's non-nuclear asset condition risk and determine a schedule for completing health assessments that will mitigate the risk of equipment failure TVA management responded they will incorporate our feedback into their review effort to have a consistent approach to system health with appropriate documentation.

SIGTARP's Quarterly Report to Congress

The audit objectives were to determine whether program funds were managed in accordance with the ARC and Federal grant requirements

The audit objectives were to determine whether program funds were managed in accordance with the ARC and Federal grant requirements

ARC approval of a J-1 visa request from a state ARC submits a request to the Department of State (DOS) to request the DOS request the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) to waiver the physicians foreign residency requirement based on at least three years of service at the Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), as designated by the U.S. Public Health Services (USPHS).

The audit objectives were to determine whether program funds were managed in accordance with the ARC and Federal grant requirements

The audit objectives were to determine whether program funds were managed in accordance with the ARC and Federal grant requirements

The audit objectives were to determine whether program funds were managed in accordance with the ARC and Federal grant requirements

There is no doubt that packages are growing in importance to the Postal Service’s future. To meet emerging customer demands, the Postal Service needs to position itself for long-term success and broaden its role across the package delivery value chain. The Postal Service has already taken some steps towards enhancing its ability to handle an increase in packages. However, it needs a strategy that includes expanding beyond the traditional postal expertise of last-mile delivery to offer one-stop, end-to-end solutions.

In 2013, we issued a report on how selected SEAs and LEAs administered the IDEA’s maintenance of effort flexibility provision when increased funding was provided under the Recovery Act. The audit found the SEAs and LEAs reviewed did not always comply with applicable laws and regulations associated with exercising maintenance of effort flexibility or properly use and account for freed-up funds resulting from exercising maintenance of effort flexibility. This was a follow-up report that provided Congress and the Department with additional information on maintenance of effort flexibility that they may want to consider when Congress reauthorizes the IDEA and that also identified actions that the Department could take now to address implementation issues associated with maintenance of effort flexibility.

The audit objectives were to determine whether program funds were managed in accordance with the ARC and Federal grant requirements

We found that FSA did not effectively monitor borrower complaints against the PCAs or make sure that the complaints were satisfactorily resolved, did not ensure that the PCAs were adhering to Federal debt collection laws, and did not consider complaints when deciding how much to compensate PCAs. As a result, FSA did not know whether the PCAs were appropriately servicing borrower accounts.

Audit of 332 Cost Estimates

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