Federal Reports

This SBA OIG pandemic oversight report reviewed the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Restaurant Revitalization Fund application review and approval process. The objective of this review was to determine whether the controls SBA implemented to award RRF program funds in accordance with the Act and other applicable guidance were effective. SBA developed an implementation plan including a risk framework that was intended to reduce the risk of making improper payments and awarding Restaurant Revitalization Funds (RRF) to ineligible recipients. However, the plan did not include all program requirements and SBA did not always adhere to the plan or have sufficient controls to ensure program and statutory requirements were met by RRF applicants.Beginning in May 2021, SBA received 278,300 RRF applications requesting $72.2 billion in relief payments. SBA approved approximately 101,000 applications and disbursed all $28.6 billion authorized for the program. After accounting for award amounts that we questioned for more than one eligibility requirement, we determined that SBA disbursed nearly $6.7 billion to applicants without sufficiently verifying they were eligible for award.We made five recommendations for SBA to improve the use of data to reduce risks of making improper payments, and to review and recover funds awarded to applicants that did not meet eligibility requirements or received funds that exceeded statutory limits. SBA management agreed or partially agreed with all five recommendations.

The AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General (AmeriCorps OIG) investigated allegations that multiple AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion Program (SCP) volunteers submitted falsified timesheets during their service at Kansas City Shepherd’s Center (KCSC). The investigation substantiated that three SCP volunteers submitted falsified timesheets and received a combined total of $7,769.82 in Federal funds as a result. One of the volunteers, Manuel Benson Jr., pled guilty to one count of 18 U.S.C. § 641, Theft of Government Money, and was sentenced to two years’ probation and ordered to pay $4,727.55 in restitution. The other volunteers entered into repayment agreements with KCSC and the United States Attorney’s Office declined to prosecute them. AmeriCorps OIG referred the matter to AmeriCorps and recommended it disallow the funds KCSC paid to the volunteers less the amount of Benson’s restitution. AmeriCorps OIG also recommended that AmeriCorps provide training and technical assistance to KCSC to ensure volunteer supervisors are adequately supervising volunteers.

This Office of Inspector General (OIG) Comprehensive Healthcare Inspection Program report describes the results of a focused evaluation of the quality of care delivered in the inpatient and outpatient settings of the Cheyenne VA Medical Center and multiple outpatient clinics in Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming. This evaluation focused on five key operational areas:• Leadership and organizational risks• Quality, safety, and value• Medical staff privileging• Environment of care• Mental health (suicide prevention initiatives)The OIG issued five recommendations for improvement in three areas:1. Medical staff privileging• Focused Professional Practice Evaluation results review• Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation completion2. Environment of care• Environment of care inspections3. Mental health• Suicide-related event reporting• Comprehensive Suicide Risk Evaluation completion

We found that DOI was not taking sufficient action to ensure the contractor met all contract terms and conditions.

We audited the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s use of grants awarded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program.