Reports

07.01.2020

The Department Is Actively Preventing OIG from Completing an Evaluation

This memorandum expresses my deep concern that the Department is failing to identify specific privileges and provide privilege markings to a U.S. Department of
Commerce Office of Inspector General (OIG) evaluation, while claiming amorphous and generalized privileges, which effectively prevent us from publicly releasing the evaluation that is otherwise ready for release.

06.30.2020

University of Virginia Agrees to Settle Claims Associated with Federal Grants

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The University of Virginia, located in Charlottesville, has agreed to pay $1 million to settle claims that it did not properly account for certain rebates and credits the university received on purchases it made in connection with federal grants and awards (Federal Awards).

06.26.2020

Evaluation of NOAA's September 6, 2019, Statement About Hurricane Dorian Forecasts

On Friday, September 6, 2019—the day Hurricane Dorian made landfall in the United States as a Category 1 hurricane—the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued an unsigned statement (Statement) in response to a request by the White House then-acting Chief of Staff to your office.

Report Number OIG-20-032-I

06.25.2020

Anchorage Woman Charged with Embezzling Funds from a Tribal Organization in Alaska

U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced today that an Anchorage woman has been federally charged with embezzling approximately $174,290 from the Alaska Native Harbor Seal Commission (ANHSC), which was primarily funded from federal grants issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with additional federal grant funds provided by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

06.18.2020

Evaluation of 2020 Census Peak Operations

We are initiating an evaluation of the U.S. Census Bureau's (the Bureau's) 2020 Census peak operations.

06.18.2020

Management Alert: Top Oversight Challenges Facing the Department of Commerce to Ensuring That Pandemic Funds Are Timely and Appropriately Spent

Attached is a management alert based on 'Top Oversight Challenges Facing the Department of Commerce to Ensuring That Pandemic Funds Are Timely and Appropriately Spent'—our May 11, 2020, response to a request from the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE).

Report Number OIG-20-031-M

06.16.2020

Deficiencies in USPTO's Backup and Restoration Process Could Delay Recovery of Critical Applications in the Event of a System Failure and Adversely Affect Its Mission

Attached for your review is our final report on the audit of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's (USPTO's) Patent Capture and Application Processing System (PCAPS). Our objective was to determine whether USPTO has adequate data recovery and contingency plans in place to ensure operational availability of PCAPS.

Report Number OIG-20-030-A

06.15.2020

Audit of USPTO's Efforts to Retire Patent Legacy Systems

We are initiating an audit of the United States Patent and Trademark Office's (USPTO's) patent legacy systems. Our objective is to review USPTO's progress towards retiring its patent legacy systems.

06.15.2020

Fiscal Year 2019 Compliance with Improper Payment Requirements

This memorandum provides our final report on fiscal year (FY) 2019 improper payment reporting.

Report Number OIG-20-029-I

06.03.2020

Senior Executives at Major Chicken Producers Indicted on Antitrust Charges

U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced today that an Anchorage woman has been federally charged with embezzling approximately $174,290 from the Alaska Native Harbor Seal Commission (ANHSC), which was primarily funded from federal grants issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with additional federal grant funds provided by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.