CNCSOIG, Monthly Report January 31st 2012

OIG Investigates ARRA Grantees

During January 2012, the Office of Inspector General continued its investigations of three Corporation grantees that received ARRA funds. We also continued to monitor the Corporation’s closeout of other ARRA grants.

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report 2012-1

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CNCSOIG, Monthly Report December 31st 2011

OIG Monitors Closeout of ARRA Grants

During December 2011, the Office of Inspector General continued to monitor the Corporation’s closeout of ARRA AmeriCorps and VISTA grants. It also pursued several investigations of ARRA grantees.

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report 2011-12

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report November 30th 2011

ARRA Investigations Continue

During November 2011, the Office of Inspector General referred one ARRA-related investigation for alternative resolution while pursuing other cases. We also continued to monitor the Corporation’s closeout of ARRA AmeriCorps and VISTA grants.

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report 2011-11

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report October 31st 2011

Audit Completed on VISTA Grantee

During October 2011, the Office of Inspector General issued an audit report on an ARRA grant made by the Corporation to fund VISTA members serving with the World Won Development Center’s Fitting Back In program. We also continued to monitor the Corporation’s closeout of other ARRA grants.

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report 2011-10

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report September 30th 2011

ARRA Audits, Investigations Continue

During September 2011, the Office of Inspector General continued to work on several significant audits and investigations involving ARRA grantees. We also continued our review of Corporation information technology upgrades financed with ARRA funds and our monitoring of the Corporation’s closeout of ARRA AmeriCorps and VISTA grants.

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report 2011-09

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report August 31st 2011

Investigation Leads to Grant Funds Recovery

During August 2011, the Office of Inspector General recovered nearly $20,000 of misused Recovery Act grant funds as the result of an investigation. We also continued our comprehensive audit of the VISTA program.

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report 2011-08

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report July 31st 2011

Audit Report Issued on VISTA Grant

During July 2011, the Office of Inspector General issued an audit report on Corporation grants awarded to the New York City Office of the Mayor, including a Recovery Act award to support nearly 200 VISTA members. We also continued our review of a contracted upgrade of the Corporation’s information technology systems paid for with Recovery Act funds.

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report 2011-07

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report June 30th 2011

Report Examines Budgeting for VISTA

During June 2011, the Office of Inspector General Audit Section issued a report on budget formulation and execution for the Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) program, which has received significant ARRA funding. We also continued our review of Corporation information technology upgrades financed with ARRA funds.

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report 2011-06

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report May 31st 2011

VISTA Program, IT Upgrade Examined

During May 2011, the Office of Inspector General continued its audit of a large-scale VISTA program financed with ARRA funds and its review of a Corporation contract for an information technology upgrade that was financed under ARRA.

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report 2011-05

ARRA Grantee Closed Amid OIG Probe

During April 2011, the Office of Inspector General was informed that the American Samoa Special Services Commission, which received ARRA funds, had been closed by Samoan authorities and that all Corporation grants had been terminated pending the results of our ongoing investigation. We also issued an audit report on the results of a series of financial systems reviews of higher-risk ARRA grantees.

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report 2011-04

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report March 31st 2011

ARRA-Financed Contract Reviewed

During March 2011, the Office of Inspector General initiated a review of an ARRA-financed Corporation upgrade of information technology systems. We also continued work on an audit report on the results of a series of financial systems reviews of higher-risk ARRA grantees and opened one investigation.

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report 2011-03

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report Febuary 28th 2011

OIG Initiates Audit of VISTA Grantee

During February 2011, the Office of Inspector General initiated one new audit of a grantee which received ARRA funds for its VISTA program. The OIG also continued work on an audit report on the results of a series of financial systems reviews of higher-risk ARRA grantees. It referred the results of one investigation for alternative resolution.

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report 2011-02

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report January 31st 2011

OIG Finds Serious Problems in American Samoa AmeriCorps Program

During January 2011, the Office of Inspector General Audit Section completed a review that found serious problems in many aspects of the AmeriCorps program administered by the American Samoa Special Services Commission (ASSSC). It received $375,000 in ARRA funds to support local nonprofits with additional AmeriCorps member positions. The auditors questioned more than $121,000 of ASSSC’s claimed ARRA grant costs.

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report 2011-01

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report December 31st 2010

Work Continues on American Samoa Audit, Investigation

During December 2010, the Office of Inspector General continued work on its audit and investigation of the American Samoa Special Services Commission, a Corporation grantee which received Recovery Act funds. We also continued our financial systems reviews of higher-risk Recovery Act grantees and our comprehensive audit of the Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) program.

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report 2010-12

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report November 31st 2010

OIG Conducts American Samoa Probe

During November 2010, a team of Office of Inspector General Special Agents traveled to American Samoa to investigate widespread abuses of grant funds, including Recovery Act funds, revealed by an OIG audit of the American Samoa Special Services Commission. We also continued our financial systems reviews of higher-risk Recovery Act grantees. Six OIG staff members participated in the “Focus on Recovery” 2010 Biennial National Procurement and Grant Fraud Conference.

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report 2010-11

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report October 31st 2010

Audits of ARRA Grantee, VISTA Continue

During October 2010, the Office of Inspector General continued its audit of a U.S. Territory’s service commission, which received ARRA funds. Based on our preliminary findings, the OIG issued a Management Alert to the Corporation, which has placed a manual hold on the grantee’s drawdowns. We also continued our audit of the Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) program and a series of financial systems reviews of higher risk ARRA grantees.

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report 2010-10

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report September 30th 2010

Grantee’s Drawdowns Placed on Manual Hold

During September 2010, the Office of Inspector General initiated an audit of a U.S. Territory’s service commission, which had received ARRA funds. Based on our preliminary findings of widespread financial irregularities, the OIG issued a Management Alert to the Corporation, which placed a manual hold on the grantee’s drawdowns of grant funds. We also issued one audit report on an ARRA grantee.

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report 2010-09

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report August 31st 2010

Evaluation Identifies Contractor FISMA Issues

During August 2010, Office of Inspector General began an evaluation of an ARRA-financed contractor and identified several compliance issues related to the Federal Information Security Act (FISMA). We also initiated four financial systems audits of ARRA grantees, briefed Congressional committee staff members on our oversight efforts, and continued our comprehensive audit of the VISTA program.

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report 2010-08

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report July 31st 2010

New Work Plan Includes Recovery Act Oversight

During July 2010, Office of Inspector General developed and adopted a Three-Year Work Plan for Fiscal Years 2011-2013 that includes oversight initiatives for Recovery Act grantees and programs. Our Audit Section continued its financial systems audits of selected Recovery Act grantees and its comprehensive audit of the Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) program, which received significant Recovery Actfunding.

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report 2010-07

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report June 30th 2010

Outreach, Training at National Conference

During June 2010, Office of Inspector General audit and investigative staff conducted Recovery Act fraud awareness training and other outreach activities for more than 120 individuals and 40 grantee organizations at the Corporation’s National Conference on Volunteering and Service in New York City. We also issued the first of a series of audit reports on Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), a Corporation program that has been greatly expanded with the use of Recovery Act funds.

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report 2010-06

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report May 31st 2010

Fraud Awareness Is Raised On Guam

During May 2010, the Office of Inspector General took its Recovery Act fraud awareness training effort halfway around the world to Guam. Special Agent Kevin Benefield conducted seven training sessions for nearly 100 personnel of Corporation grantees and other stakeholders on Guam. Since beginning its effort in early 2009, the OIG has conducted 39 training sessions nationwide, providing information on Recovery Act requirements and fraud prevention strategies to more than 800 individuals.

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report 2010-05

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report April 30th 2010

Multiple Oversight Efforts Continue

During April 2010, the Office of Inspector General continued work on three investigations of Recovery Act grantees and six grantee Financial Accounting Systems Reviews. We also monitored Corporation information technology contracts financed with Recovery Act funds and continued work on our comprehensive audit of the Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) program, which received Recovery Act funding for 3,000 additional members.

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report 2010-04

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report March 31st 2010

Three Investigations Initiated

During March 2010, the Office of Inspector General opened three investigations of Recovery Act grantees as the result of complaints. We also continued work on Financial Accounting Systems Reviews of six grantees. We further presented a Fraud Awareness Briefing, focusing on Recovery Act issues, to representatives of 24 Corporation grantees at the Southwest AmeriCorps Conference in Dallas, TX.

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report 2010-03

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report February 28th 2010

Oversight Includes Alaska Site Visit

During February 2010, the Office of Inspector General continued field work on its Financial Accounting Systems Reviews of Recovery Act grantees and conducted a Fraud Awareness Briefing and site visit at a grantee in Juneau, AK. We also scheduled additional proactive site visits and began planning for a follow-up risk assessment of grantees receiving Act funds for expanded AmeriCorps and VISTA programs.

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report 2010-02

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report January 31st 2010

Six Grantee Reviews Underway

During January 2010, the Office of Inspector General conducted field work on Financial Accounting Systems Reviews of two Recovery Act grantees. A total of six such reviews are now in process. We scheduled additional proactive grantee site visits and participated with the Corporation in a working group to monitor and evaluate Recovery Act policies, implementation, and grantee reporting. We also continued work on our comprehensive audit of the VISTA program.

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report 2010-01

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report December 31st 2009

Comprehensive Oversight Continues

During December 2009, the Office of Inspector General staff conducted nine grantee site visits and provided Fraud Awareness Briefings and training related to Recovery Act requirements to nearly 100 grantee officials and volunteer program participants. We also reviewed and commented on the Corporation’s draft policy for dealing with late and/or incomplete grantee reporting and conducted field work for a Financial Accounting Systems Review of a Recovery Act grantee.

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report 2009-10

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report November 30th 2009

Training, Outreach Efforts Expand

During November 2009, the Office of Inspector General staff traveled to 12 locations in seven states, conducting grantee site visits and providing Fraud Awareness Briefings and training related to Recovery Act requirements to more than 260 grantee officials and AmeriCorps members. Our outreach included participation in a Corporation grantee conference in New Orleans, where we provided Recovery Act information, as well as insights into OIG audits and investigations, to representatives of 165 grantees.

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report 2009-09

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report October 31st 2009

OIG Conducts Proactive Grantee Site Visits

During October 2009, the Office of Inspector General conducted a series of proactive site visits to Corporation grantees receiving ARRA funds. During visits to sites in Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, and Maryland, OIG investigators and auditors interviewed grantee officials and program participants, reviewed documentation, and conducted ARRA Fraud Awareness Briefings. We also scheduled more grantee site visits for November, and completed and submitted our Recovery Act Data Quality Review. Two OIG staff members participated in 508 Compliance Training for ARRA reports.

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report 2009-08

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report September 30th 2009

Plans Set For Grantee Site Visits

During September 2009, the Office of Inspector General completed its analysis of data on higher-risk grantees receiving Recovery Act funds and began scheduling site visits. We also completed work on a 2010 Audit plan that includes significant Recovery Act oversight efforts. The OIG conducted two Recovery Act Fraud Awareness Briefings for Corporation grantees and continued work on its in-depth audit of the Volunteers In Service To America (VISTA) program.

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report 2009-07

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report August 31st 2009

Highest-Risk Grantees Identified

During August 2009, the Office of Inspector General completed a comprehensive risk assessment of Corporation grantees receiving Recovery Act funds. We identified the highest-risk grantees, which will be scheduled for random site visits, reviews, and Fraud Awareness Briefings. The OIG also implemented the Contract and Grant Staffing Qualifications Survey and continued its in-depth audit of the Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) program.

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report 2009-06

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report July 30th 2009

Recovery Act Grantees Assessed for Risk

During July 2009, the Office of Inspector General began a comprehensive risk assessment of Corporation grantees receiving Recovery Act funds. The data will be used to target high-risk grantees for random site visits and Fraud Awareness Briefings. The OIG hired an auditor, who is concentrating on Recovery Act audits. We also continued our in-depth audit of the Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) program.

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report 2009-05

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report June 30th 2009

Audit, investigation launched; Audit Manager hired

The OIG in June began an investigation of the Corporation’s $9.45 million (RA funds) contract with Seven Corners, which processes medical insurance claims for volunteer program participants. We also initiated a comprehensive audit of Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), which received $65 million in RA funds, and further hired an audit manager and designated a new auditor position to be funded with RA funds.

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report 2009-04

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report May 30th 2009

Staff Expansion Under Way

During May, the OIG continued interviewing candidates for audit manager, auditor, and investigator, all of whom will be involved in Recovery Act oversight efforts.

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report 2009-03

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report April 30th 2009

Recovery Act Positions Posted

During April, the OIG posted vacancy announcements were posted for audit manager, auditor and investigator positions.

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report 2009-02

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report March 31st 2009

Oversight Planning Continues

During March, the OIG continued developing its Recovery Act oversight plan and evaluating its human capital needs for that effort.

CNCSOIG, Monthly Report 2009-01

CNCSOIG, Weekly Report March 31st 2009

OIG Oversight Update

There were no new developments to report for the week ending March 31, 2009.

CNCSOIG, Weekly Report 2009-05

CNCSOIG, Weekly Report March 24th 2009

OIG Oversight Update

There were no new developments to report for the week ending March 24, 2009.

CNCSOIG, Weekly Report 2009-04

CNCSOIG, Weekly Report March 17th 2009

Staff Expansion For Oversight Under Way

The OIG sent vacancy announcements for an auditor and investigator to the Corporation’s Office of Human Capital. These personnel, in addition to an audit manager position that is already pending, will focus their efforts on ARRA-funded Corporation programs. Also, at the request of the General Services Administration, the OIG’s updates will be included in the Corporation’s reports to Recovery.gov. The OIG will continue to post a weekly report on its own Recovery.

CNCSOIG, Weekly Report 2009-03

CNCSOIG, Weekly Report March 10th 2009

Corporation’s Plan Under Review

The OIG began reviewing the Corporation’s ARRA implementation plan. It also prepared vacancy announcements for an auditor and investigator, both of which will focus their efforts on ARRA oversight. The OIG further used non-ARRA funds to procure RSS software for its website.

CNCSOIG, Weekly Report 2009-02

CNCSOIG, Weekly Report March 3rd 2009

OIG Prepares for Oversight Role

The OIG established unique Treasury Appropriation Fund Symbols and created a website page for Recovery Act activities and established an Atom feed for news service posting, We established coordination process with OMB, the Government Accountability Office and the Federal Inspector General community. We also set in motion the process of hiring an additional audit manager, who will be primarily assigned to RA oversight activities.

CNCSOIG, Weekly Report 2009-01