Federal Reports

TVA entered into a contract with a vendor to provide a fully integrated prescription drug program that would include both retail and mail order prescription drug services. The contractor was required to (1) maintain a Participating Pharmacy Network to provide retail pharmacy services, (2) provide base administrative services including processing and adjudicating TVA's prescription drug claims in accordance with TVA's plan design, (3) issue checks to participating pharmacies and/or claimants on TVA's behalf, and (4) implement and administer health management programs. We reviewed the costs billed and formulary rebates credited to TVA by the contractor. Specifically, our inspection covered: Claims payments by TVA to the contractor for the period December 22, 2001, through December 30, 2005. Base administrative fee payments made by TVA to the contractor for the period January 5, 2002, through December 5, 2003. (There were no base administrative fee payments for calendar years 2004 and 2005.) Formulary rebates credited to TVA for claims adjudicated and billed from January 1, 2002, through December 31, 2005. We found, in general, the contractor billed costs in accordance with the contract terms and TVA plan provisions with the exception of certain Consumer Directed Health Plan (CDHP) claims. In addition, formulary rebates allocated to TVA exceeded the minimum guaranteed rebate amounts, when applicable, and nothing came to our attention during the limited testing of formulary rebates that would indicate TVA rebates were not determined in accordance with contract terms. TVA management generally agreed with our findings and recommendations and has taken or plans to take corrective action to resolve the issues identified regarding CDHP claims. Summary Only

Our audit of $5.9 million of costs billed to TVA by a contractor that conducted various projects and programs from April 1999 through September 2007 found the costs were fairly stated and agreed with the terms of the contract. However, about 20 percent of the payments TVA had made to the contractor were related to a specific project under which TVA acts as an administrator, collecting funds from various federal agencies and disbursing the funds to the contractor. Since the benefits received by TVA for incurring the costs of administering the collection and disbursement of the funds for the project appear negligible, we recommended TVA consider transferring the administration function for the project to the contractor. TVA management and the contractor agreed with the audit recommendation. TVA management and the contractor agreed with the audit findings. Summary Only

EAC OIG requested that the Department of Interior OIG investigate four general issues surrounding a study on voting fraud and voter intimidation.

We previously issued an audit report (2007-019F) that noted (among other things) significant duct leaks at two fossil plants. Management agreed with our recommendation to work to promote a culture of transparent reporting throughout TVA organizations. We have now closed a joint investigation with the EPA Criminal Investigations Division that found installation of a Selective Catalytic Reduction system led to deterioration in the flue gas ductwork at the Widows Creek Fossil Plant. The deterioration caused extensive leaks that became progressively worse. In spite of the extent of the leaks, it appeared TVA gave little, if any, consideration to reporting them to regulatory authorities. While TVA patched the leaks as they occurred and eventually replaced large sections of the ductwork, we recommended management consult with the TVA Ethics and Compliance Officer to incorporate ethics and compliance considerations into daily operations at the fossil plants.

EAC OIG, through the independent public accounting firm of Clifton Gunderson LLP, conducted and assessment of EAC's program and financial operations focusing on management processes and controls.

The report dealing with the review of compliance with the ARC J-1 Visa Waiver program

We identified 21 TVA contractors who held purchasing cards from March 28, 2004, to March 28, 2007, incurring 35,605 transactions totaling about $16.7 million. This included six contractors whose purchases each totaled more than $1 million for the period. A review of documentation supporting selected transactions found instances of noncompliance with TVA's policy and procedures. Specifically, we found (1) purchases that were, by policy, disallowed (e.g., computer equipment, computer software, fuel, rental of heavy equipment, and rental of vehicles); (2) transactions where it appeared the total charge was split to stay below the $5,000 transaction limit and avoid obtaining additional approval; (3) transactions with no detailed receipt showing the description and quantity of items purchased; (4) transactions with no receipt; and (5) transactions with receipts that were illegible. We also identified other control improvement opportunities. TVA management generally agreed with our findings and recommendations and has taken or plans to take corrective action.

We reviewed the TVA dam safety inspection process to determine whether it (1) met federal guidelines for dam safety, (2) was being followed by Dam Safety inspection personnel, and (3) was adequately supported by an information database. In summary, we determined River Operations' (1) inspection process met Federal Emergency Management Agency guidelines for periodic dam safety inspection programs; (2) inspection personnel appeared to adhere to the process for identifying, monitoring, and correcting inspection deficiencies based on the five dams we reviewed; (3) information databases provided adequate support for the inspection process; and (4) management had implemented planned corrective actions in response to recommendations in our 2001 audit. However, our review found (1) 57 out of 81 work orders/requests related to Maintenance and Repair (M&R) identified by the dam safety inspections for the five dams we reviewed were not completed by the estimated due date on the inspection report, and (2) there was a historical trend of not completing M&R items by the estimated due date. We recommended the Senior Vice President of River Operations consider implementing a prioritization and scheduling process that ensures timely completion of M&R projects. Management agreed with our findings and has initiated or plans to initiate corrective action.

The report dealing with the review of compliance with the ARC J-1 Visa program

The report dealing with the review of compliance with the ARC J-1 Visa Waiver program

The report dealing with the review of compliance with ARC J-1 Visa Waiver program

As part of our annual audit plan, we audited $5.2 million in costs billed to TVA by a contractor for subcontract services provided on the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Unit 1 (BFN U1) recovery project. Under its subcontract, the subcontractor provided engineers for the BFN U1 project to assist in the resolution of technical issues developed during the field implementation of modifications. Our audit objective was to determine if the costs the contractor billed to TVA were in compliance with the provisions of the contract and the subcontract. In summary, we determined the contractor billed TVA $25,331 for costs that were not in accordance with the contract provisions. TVA management plans to recover the overbilled costs. Summary Only

EAC OIG, through the independent public accounting firm of Clifton Gunderson LLP, audited $16.6 million in funds received by the Wyoming Secretary of State under the Help America Vote Act. The objectives of the audit were to determine if the Secretary of State (1) used payments authorized by Sections 101, 102, 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, for a matching contribution, and for maintenance of a base level of state outlays.

We determined the provisional billing adjustments a contractor calculated for calendar years 2005 and 2006 were understated by $267,040 due to various errors in the contractor's reconciliations of previously billed and incurred costs. Also, we found the contractor owed TVA an additional $636 due to various billing and payment errors. The contractor and TVA management agreed with our findings. Summary Only

To obtain further information, please contact the OIG Office of Counsel at OIGCounsel@oig.treas.gov, (202) 927-0650, or by mail at Office of Treasury Inspector General, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC 20220.

To obtain further information, please contact the OIG Office of Counsel at OIGCounsel@oig.treas.gov, (202) 927-0650, or by mail at Office of Treasury Inspector General, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC 20220.

EAC OIG requested that the Department of Interior OIG investigate an anonymous complaint that SysTest Labs, Incorporated, had falsified the initial and re-certifications of the AutoMark Technical Systems, LLC, Voter Assist Terminal.

We identified issues related to (1) noncompliance with reporting requirements; (2) different interpretations on how some environmental occurrences should be classified; (3) environmental issues that were not documented and managed through TVA's corrective action program; (4) lack of a corporate reportable environmental events (REE) procedure; (5) inaccurate environmental data in the Electronic Corrective Action Program (eCAP), Environmental Event Reporting (EER) system, and REE registry; and (6) two instances where TVA did not externally report events because they did not feel it was required. We recommended TVA's Environmental Stewardship and Policy (1) clarify the environmental occurrences required to be classified as Environmental Events, (2) develop a corporate REE procedure, (3) clarify the environmental occurrences required to be managed through the corrective action process, and (4) review environmental data in the eCAP, EER system, and REE registry for accuracy, correct identified errors, and identify a method to prevent future environmental database errors. We further recommended TVA's Environmental Executive work with other TVA executives to promote a culture of transparent reporting throughout TVA organizations. This could include a periodic briefing of management or executives on the status of REEs, Environmental Events, Notices of Violation, and Environmental Management System findings. Management agreed with our recommendations. Summary Only

Our review covered the external contractual services' conducted by RM. Our objectives were to determine if (1) work was performed in accordance with applicable policies and procedures and (2) costs associated with TVA employees working for outside entities/agencies were adequately recovered. In summary, we found:The majority of fiscal year (FY) 2006 RM External Contractual Services' revenue was generated from work for other federal agencies, and the projects we selected for review appeared to be in compliance with the Economy Act of 1932, as amended (31 USC 1535). In addition, direct costs and approved overheads were captured on a project-specific basis and automatically billed to ensure cost recovery. The work performed was not a TVA core business and did not appear to align directly with TVA's Strategic Plan. RM stated the work was consistent with the spirit and historical enablement of the TVA Act and was implicitly included and serves as an enabler for many parts of TVA's new Strategic Plan. The work increased TVA's monetary, reputational, and environmental risks. RM stated, however, that they continue to improve the risk profile for the RM External Contractual Services' efforts through completion of high-risk projects, through their strategy on the nature of future work, and through actions and processes to mitigate financial risks including purchasing insurance and incorporating written indemnity clauses in certain contracts.For 5 of the 14 projects reviewed, a contract could not be provided. In addition, key decisions required by RM policies and procedures were not documented, or documentation was incomplete. Based on the risks and the lack of a clear direct nexus to TVA's core business as discussed above, our draft report recommended that the President and Chief Executive Officer terminate the RM External Contractual Services' program. Management stated in their comments to our draft report that RM plans to continue the program but will exit chemical agent work as it carries the greatest risk for TVA. Management also plans to (1) further review the risks associated with the program and update TVA's risk assessment as needed and (2) improve program documentation as TVA implements its new business management software in FY 2008. We agreed with management's planned actions.

To obtain further information, please contact the OIG Office of Counsel at OIGCounsel@oig.treas.gov, (202) 927-0650, or by mail at Office of Treasury Inspector General, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC 20220.

TVA contracted with the independent certified public accounting firm of Pricewaterhouse-Coopers LLP (PricewaterhouseCoopers) to audit the balance sheets as of September 30, 2007, and 2006 and the related statements of income, changes in proprietary capital, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2007. The contract required the audit be done in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards. Our review disclosed no instances where PricewaterhouseCoopers did not comply, in all material respects, with generally accepted government auditing standards.

We conducted three reviews to determine whether the coal supplier was in compliance with weighing, sampling, and shipping provisions of the respective contract. We performed tests to verify that shipment weight and coal test results documentation maintained at each mine supported the amounts used to (1) invoice TVA for tonnage shipped and (2) calculate coal-quality adjustments. In summary, our reviews found documentation maintained at the respective mine for ten randomly selected shipments agreed with the information provided to TVA regarding tons shipped and coal-quality test results. Each supplier was also found to be in general compliance with the weighing, sampling, and shipping provisions in the contract and/or applicable standards. However, we also found some control improvement opportunities. TVA management generally agreed with our findings and recommendations and has taken or plans to take corrective action. Summary Only

This report is Sensitive But Unclassified. To obtain further information, please contact the OIG Office of Counsel at OIGCounsel@oig.treas.gov, (202) 927-0650, or by mail at Office of Treasury Inspector General, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC 20220.

To obtain further information, please contact the OIG Office of Counsel at OIGCounsel@oig.treas.gov, (202) 927-0650, or by mail at Office of Treasury Inspector General, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC 20220.

To obtain further information, please contact the OIG Office of Counsel at OIGCounsel@oig.treas.gov, (202) 927-0650, or by mail at Office of Treasury Inspector General, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC 20220.

In a prior audit, 2007-10997, Review of Temporary Shares for Sensitive Information, the OIG identified numerous incidents of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and TVA sensitive information on temporary shares available to anyone with a TVA network ID. TVA's Information Services (IS) organization subsequently reviewed other temporary shares and identified additional instances of PII available on the shares. For this audit, we (1) reviewed the risk assessment methodology used to evaluate PII identified during the reviews of temporary shares and (2) determined if IS' conclusions regarding risk exposure of PII were reasonable. In summary, we found the (1) risk assessment methodology was consistent with the National Institute of Standards and Technology's and Office of Management and Budget's guidance, and (2) conclusions reached were reasonable.

During our audit of the FY 2007 financial statements, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) found that the United States Capitol Police (USCP or the Department) paid night differential pay to civilian employees that were normally assigned day schedules. This occurred because the Office of Human Resources (OHR) did not have controls to ensure that employees assigned to day shift did not receive night differential pay for which they are not entitled.

EAC OIG, through the independent public accounting firm of Clifton Gunderson LLP, audited $60.1 million in funds received by the Washington 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, 102, 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.

To obtain further information, please contact the OIG Office of Counsel at OIGCounsel@oig.treas.gov, (202) 927-0650, or by mail at Office of Treasury Inspector General, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC 20220.

We investigated the amount of coal being left in barges after they were unloaded at the Cumberland Fossil Plant. Information provided by the barge company showed that from August 1, 2006 through July 31, 2007, TVA abandoned roughly 14,000 tons of coal per month. Based on the average cost per ton, including transportation costs, we estimated TVA lost over $6 million annually. Management advised they would review the cost effectiveness of using a contractor to clean out barges and they would issue an early Request for Proposals to attempt to negotiate language to provide for dedicated barges or clean out services.

To obtain further information, please contact the OIG Office of Counsel at OIGCounsel@oig.treas.gov, (202) 927-0650, or by mail at Office of Treasury Inspector General, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC 20220.

We reviewed hospitality expenses incurred by TVA October 1, 2005, through June 30, 2007, to (1) determine the type and level of expenditures; (2) assess compliance with policies and procedures; and (3) identify changes in hospitality policies since our last hospitality audit. We found total hospitality expenditures, including employee recognition expenses, averaged about $2.3 million per year during the period, representing a 64 percent reduction from fiscal year 2003 spending. For the period reviewed, TVA generally complied with policies and procedures, except as related to obtaining preapproval of hospitality expenditures. Management agreed with this finding and took corrective action. <br><br>

At the request of the Chief of Police, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) followed up on two issues related the Review of the Student Loan Repayment Program (OIG-2007-07). Specifically, we determined whether (1) disbursements exceeding $10,000 for a recipient in an individual fiscal year, were funded with the appropriate fiscal year appropriation and (2) the disbursements under the student loan repayment program were included in the calculation for the annual salary cap.

This report dealing with the review of compliance with the ARC J-1 Visa Waiver program

This report dealing with the review of compliance with the ARC J-1 Visa Waiver program

EAC OIG, through the independent public accounting firm of Clifton Gunderson LLP, audited $62.3 million in funds received by the Missouri 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, 102, 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, for a matching contribution, and for maintenance of a base level of state outlays.

We performed agreed-upon procedures, requested solely to assist management in determining the validity of the Winning Performance payout awards for fiscal year (FY) ending September 30, 2007. In summary, we found:The FY 2007 Winning Performance goals were properly approved. Actual year-to-date inputs for the sampled metrics agreed with the respective basis worksheet. Actual inputs for the nine TVA-wide metrics agreed with the underlying support provided by the Strategic Business Units, except for the calculation of the Delivered Cost of Power (DCOP) metric, which was inconsistent with the Board-approved formula. This resulted in a one cent overstatement of the calculated DCOP, further resulting in a .25 percent increase in the TVA Scorecard percentage. Management agreed and made the appropriate correction during the engagement. Also, in applying the procedures, we noted the Fuel Cost Adjustment (FCA) metric improperly included Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant precommercial costs. The FCA metric approved by the Board did not include these costs. Including these costs in the FCA metric resulted in an 8.25 percent overstatement in the TVA Scorecard percentage. After discussion with management, these costs were removed from the FCA metric and subsequently included in the DCOP metric. A revised payout report was provided for retesting. We noted during retesting, the precommercial costs were properly excluded from the FCA metric and included in the DCOP metric. We further noted Allowance for Funds Used During Construction was added to the DCOP metric. The payout percentages were recalculated by the OIG based on the changes to the DCOP metric noted above. Summary Only

In 2003, United States Capitol Police (USCP or the Department) received authority' to establish an educational assistance program to recruit or retain qualified personnel. In conducting USCP's Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 financial statement audit, the Office of Inspector General's (OIG) contract auditors identified the Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) as a "high-risk" area, particularly vulnerable to fraud, waste, and mismanagement.  Based on this, OIG conducted a review to determine if USCP's SLRP was operating in accordance with the terms of the USCP's regulation and directive. Our scope included over $3 million dollars in disbursements during FYs 2004 through 2006 for student loan repayments.

We audited $324,000 of costs billed to TVA by a contractor for providing volunteer services using TVA retirees to determine if the contractor had billed TVA in accordance with the contract terms and conditions. In summary, we found the contractor had overbilled TVA $63,755 including (1) $44,855 of unsupported costs and (2) an estimated $18,900 of ineligible travel expenses. The contractor agreed it had overbilled TVA $30,022 but stated (1) it disagreed with $25,000 of unsupported costs because a TVA employee had authorized the expenses and (2) the ineligible travel expenses would be reduced to $10,167 if TVA retroactively changes a contract reimbursement rate for mileage expenses. Summary Only

This report is Sensitive But Unclassified. To obtain further information, please contact the OIG Office of Counsel at OIGCounsel@oig.treas.gov, (202) 927-0650, or by mail at Office of Treasury Inspector General, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC 20220.

To obtain further information, please contact the OIG Office of Counsel at OIGCounsel@oig.treas.gov, (202) 927-0650, or by mail at Office of Treasury Inspector General, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC 20220.

To obtain further information, please contact the OIG Office of Counsel at OIGCounsel@oig.treas.gov, (202) 927-0650, or by mail at Office of Treasury Inspector General, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC 20220.