Federal Reports

This report summarizes work that OIG initiated and completed during this semiannual period ending March 31, 2022, on a number of critical Departmental activities. Over the past 6 months—in addition to issuing OIG's annual "Top Management and Performance Challenges Facing the Department of Commerce" report—OIG issued 15 products related to its audit, evaluation, and inspection work. These products addressed programs and personnel associated with the First Responder Network Authority, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), United States Patent and Trademark Office, and the Department itself. This report also describes OIG's investigative activities addressing programs and personnel associated with the Minority Business Development Agency, NOAA, and the Department itself.

Spring 2022 GPO OIG Semiannual Report to Congress October 1, 2021 - March 31, 2022

The objective of the audit is to express an opinion on whether the Commission’s financial statements are presented fairly, in all material respects, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

The objective was to determine the extent that Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Office for Bombing Prevention (OBP) manages and assesses national capabilities to counter improvised explosive devices (C-IED). OBP needs to improve management of component participation or tracking milestone completion dates as required.

An Information Technology Manager based in Washington, D.C., was terminated from the company on March 30, 2022. We found that the manager violated company policies by discussing bidding strategies with a vendor and providing exclusive access to company facilities prior to the vendor submitting its bid to the company, giving the vendor an unfair competitive advantage.

This report presents the results of our self-initiated audit of Deposit by Mail (DBM) Controls at the U.S. Postal Service’s [redacted] (Project Number 22-234). The [redacted] is in the Lakeshores division of the Western Processing region of the Postal Service. This audit was designed to provide Postal Service management with timely information on potential financial and security risks related to DBM service at the [redacted].In February 2015, the Postal Service and a bank initiated the DBM service to allow cash and high-value mailings to be sent to the bank from retail customers through the Postal Service Priority Mail system. The bank has [redacted] retail customers that participate in the DBM service. The Postal Service receives only the revenue from postage paid on the Priority Mail pieces as high-value DBM mail is handled and processed like any other Priority Mail. DBM mail is processed at [redacted] —for delivery to the bank. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Postal Service personnel are responsible for security at these [redacted]. Our review focused on DBM mail service routed through the [redacted].