Reports

Department of Commerce OIG

EDA Needs to Improve Oversight of CARES Act Revolving Loan Funds to Ensure Loans Are Made to Eligible Borrowers and Used as Intended

Department of Commerce OIG

EDA Needs to Improve Oversight of CARES Act Revolving Loan Funds to Ensure Loans Are Made to Eligible Borrowers and Used as Intended

Our audit found that loan costs claimed by the RLF operators were not allowable, allocable, and reasonable. Specifically, we found that the four operators awarded 11 of the 19 loans (58 percent), totaling $4,020,050, to ineligible borrowers that did not meet the eligibility criteria in the operators’ respective RLF operational plan, and borrowers did not use the RLF funds for the purpose intended by the CARES Act. As a result, we are questioning $4,020,050 in loan funds. In addition, we found RLF operators with 20 percent or more loans that were delinquent, in default, or written off, and EDA...

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Department of Commerce OIG

Puerto Rico’s Department of Natural and Environmental Resources Properly Disbursed Funds but Was Slow in Expending Fishery Disaster Assistance Funds

We audited the Puerto Rico’s Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (PRDNER’s) use of Federal Emergency and Pandemic Relief Financial Assistance Funds. Our audit objective was to determine whether federal funds received by PRDNER to support its fisheries in recovering from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic1 and damages caused by several hurricanes were properly disbursed and used for their intended purpose. We conducted this audit in response to a congressional request, and answers to congressional questions about disaster relief funds are included in this report. Overall, we...

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Election Assistance Commission OIG

Audit of the Administration of Help American Vote Act Grants Awarded to the U.S. Virgin Islands

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) audited Help America Vote Act (HAVA) grants administered by the Election System of the Virgin Islands (ESVI), totaling $2.2 million. This included federal funds, program income, and interest earned on the Election Security and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds.

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Audit | 11/20/2024

Election Assistance Commission OIG

Audit of the Administration of Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the State of Georgia

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) audited Help America Vote Act (HAVA) grants administered by the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office (GSoS), totaling $46.3 million. This included federal funds, state matching funds, and interest earned on the reissued Section 101, reissued Section 251, Election Security, and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act grants.

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Audit | 8/16/2024

Election Assistance Commission OIG

Audit of the Administration of Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the State of Michigan

The independent public accounting firm of Brown & Company CPAs and Management Consultants, PLLC, under contract with the Office of Inspector General, audited Help America Vote Act (HAVA) grants administered by the Michigan Department of State (MDOS), totaling $49.88 million. This included federal funds, state matching funds, and interest and program income earned on the reissued Section 101, reissued Section 251, Election Security, and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act grants.

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Audit | 8/15/2024

Election Assistance Commission OIG

Audit of the Administration of Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the State of New Jersey

The independent public accounting firm of Brown & Company CPAs and Management Consultants, PLLC, under contract with the Office of Inspector General, audited Help America Vote Act (HAVA) grants administered by the New Jersey Department of State, totaling $39.52 million. This included federal funds, state matching funds, and interest earned on the Election Security and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act grants.

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Election Assistance Commission OIG

Audit of the Administration of Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the State of Iowa

The independent public accounting firm of Brown & Company CPAs and Management Consultants, PLLC, under contract with the Office of Inspector General, audited Help America Vote Act (HAVA) grants administered by the Iowa Secretary of State, totaling $18.28 million. This included federal funds, state matching funds, and interest earned on the Election Security and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act grants.

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Election Assistance Commission OIG

Audit of the Administration of Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the State of Rhode Island

The independent public accounting firm of Brown & Company, CPAs and Management Consultants, PLLC, under contract with the Office of Inspector General, audited Help America Vote Act (HAVA) grants administered by the Rhode Island Secretary of State, totaling $11.8 million. This included federal funds, state matching funds, and interest earned on the reissued Section 251, Election Security, and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act grants.

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Election Assistance Commission OIG

Audit of the Administration of Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the State of Tennessee

The independent public accounting firm of Brown & Company CPAs and Management Consultants, PLLC, under contract with OIG, audited Help America Vote Act (HAVA) grants administered by the Tennessee Secretary of State, totaling $34.64 million.

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Department of Commerce OIG

Independent Program Evaluation of National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Pandemic Relief Program

For the independent program evaluation of National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Pandemic Relief Program, the evaluation objective was to determine whether NIST grantees and subrecipients accounted for and expended pandemic relief funds provided under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act and subsequent funding authorizations in accordance with federal laws and regulations. We contracted with the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), an independent firm, to perform this evaluation. Our office oversaw the evaluation’s progress to ensure that IDA performed it in...

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Inspection / Evaluation | 3/27/2024

Election Assistance Commission OIG

Cancellation: Audit of the Administration of Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Funds by the State of Minnesota

The purpose of this memorandum is to notify stakeholders of the decision to cancel the EAC OIG audit of the administration of HAVA funds by the State of Minnesota.

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Election Assistance Commission OIG

Audit of the Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the State of North Carolina

EAC OIG audited funds received by the State of North Carolina under the Help America Vote Act, totaling $33 million. This included Election Security and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act grants.

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Audit | 2/22/2024

Election Assistance Commission OIG

Audit of the Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the Territory of American Samoa

EAC OIG, through the independent public accounting firm of McBride, Lock & Associates, LLC, audited $1.8 million in funds received by the territory of American Samoa under the Help America Vote Act. The objectives of the audit were to determine whether the Territorial Election Office of American Samoa: 1) used funds for authorized purposes in accordance with Section 101 and Section 251 of HAVA and other applicable requirements; 2) properly accounted for and controlled property purchased with HAVA payments; and 3) used the funds in a manner consistent with the informational plans provided to...

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Audit | 11/29/2023

1 - Closed

We recommend that the EAC require the Office to return $77,074 to the EAC for CARES expenditures outside of the budget period.

10 - Closed

We recommend that the EAC require the Office to implement a policy to ensure property purchased with federal funds is used, managed, and disposed in accordance with the Office’s procedures.

11 - Closed

We recommend that the EAC require the Office to ensure all property purchased with Federal funds is placed on a compliant property record.

2 - Closed

We recommend that the EAC require the Office to transfer to the Election Security election fund $130,945 for the unsupported non-payroll expenditures and $18,673 and associated fringe benefits for the unsupported payroll expenditures.

3 - Closed

We recommend that the EAC require the Office to return $8,811 and associated fringe benefits to the EAC for the unsupported CARES Act payroll expenditures.

4 - Closed

We recommend that the EAC require the Office to implement procedures and training to ensure adequate documentation is maintained to support the allowability of expenditures charged to the HAVA grants.

5 - Closed

We recommend that the EAC require the Office to implement procedures to ensure interest is earned on any election funds received going forward.

6 - Closed

We recommend that the EAC address and resolve the following recommendation that the Office perform a reconciliation of the grant activity for the Election Security grant through March 31, 2022 to ensure that all expenditures are fully disclosed and reconcile into the fund balance.

7 - Closed

We recommend that the EAC address and resolve the following recommendation that the Office prepare and submit revised financial reports to the EAC for Election Security activities as of March 31, 2022.

8 - Closed

We recommend that the EAC address and resolve the following recommendation that the Office implement procedures and training to ensure proper reporting of HAVA grant activity on future financial reports.

9 - Closed

We recommend that the EAC require the Office to implement a policy to ensure amounts reported on the Territory-wide SEFA are properly identified by ALN title and number in compliance with Uniform Guidance.

Election Assistance Commission OIG

Audit of the Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the Territory of Guam

EAC OIG, through the independent public accounting firm of McBride, Lock & Associates, LLC, audited $1.8 million in funds received by the territory of Guam under the Help America Vote Act. The objectives of the audit were to determine whether the Guam Election Commission: 1) used funds for authorized purposes in accordance with Section 101 and Section 251 of HAVA and other applicable requirements; 2) properly accounted for and controlled property purchased with HAVA payments; and 3) used the funds in a manner consistent with the informational plans provided to EAC. The audit also determined if...

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Audit | 11/03/2023

Election Assistance Commission OIG

Audit of the HAVA Grants Awarded to the State of Wisconsin

EAC OIG, through the independent public accounting firm of McBride, Lock & Associates, LLC, audited $27.4 million in funds received by the State of Wisconsin under the Help America Vote Act. The objectives of the audit were to determine whether the State of Wisconsin Elections Commission: 1) used funds for authorized purposes in accordance with Section 101 and Section 251 of HAVA and other applicable requirements; 2) properly accounted for and controlled property purchased with HAVA payments; and 3) used the funds in a manner consistent with the informational plans provided to EAC. The audit...

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Audit | 9/27/2023

Election Assistance Commission OIG

Audit of the Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the State of Missouri

EAC OIG, through the independent public accounting firm of McBride, Lock & Associates, LLC, audited $27.4 million in funds received by the State of Missouri under the Help America Vote Act. The objectives of the audit were to determine whether the Missouri Office of the Secretary of State: 1) used funds for authorized purposes in accordance with Section 101 and Section 251 of HAVA and other applicable requirements; 2) properly accounted for and controlled property purchased with HAVA payments; and 3) used the funds in a manner consistent with the informational plans provided to EAC. The audit...

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Audit | 8/25/2023

Election Assistance Commission OIG

Audit of the Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the State of Alaska

EAC OIG, through the independent public accounting firm of McBride, Lock & Associates, LLC, audited $15.2 million in funds received by the State of Alaska under the Help America Vote Act. The objectives of the audit were to determine whether the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Alaska: 1) used funds for authorized purposes in accordance with Section 101 and Section 251 of HAVA and other applicable requirements; 2) properly accounted for and controlled property purchased with HAVA payments; and 3) used the funds in a manner consistent with the informational plans provided to EAC. The audit...

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Audit | 8/02/2023

Election Assistance Commission OIG

Audit of the Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

EAC OIG audited funds received by the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands under the Help America Vote Act, totaling $1.2 million. This included Election Security and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act grants.

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Audit | 2/24/2023

Election Assistance Commission OIG

Audit of the Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the State of California

EAC OIG, through the independent public accounting firm of McBride, Lock & Associates, LLC, audited funds received by the State of California under the Help America Vote Act, including state matching funds and interest earned, totaling $216.3 million. This included Election Security, reissued Section 101, reissued Section 251, and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act grants.

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Audit | 10/04/2022

1 - Closed

We recommend that the EAC require the Office perform a reconciliation of the grant activity for the Election Security, Section 251 reissued, Section 101 reissued, and CARES Act funds and ensure that all expenditures are fully disclosed, and file amended FFRs, as applicable. If the Office determines that it is unable to perform the reconciliation of the grant activity, obtain financial services to support the completion of the reconciliation.

2 - Closed

We recommend that the EAC require the Office implement procedures and training to properly fill out the required Federal Financial Reports, which reflect the uses of award funds and the interest and program income generated from those funds for all HAVA grants.

3 - Closed

We recommend that the EAC require the Office transfer into the election fund $51,012 and any related fringe benefits and indirect costs for the unsupported payroll costs cited above.

4 - Closed

We recommend that the EAC require the Office implement procedures or provide additional training to ensure that payroll costs are adequately supported with appropriate signature approvals, pay rates, and timesheets when being allocated to the HAVA grants.

5 - Closed

We recommend that the EAC require the Office perform detailed testing on the $180,350 of additional wages selected for substantive testing to determine what amount, if any, remains unsupported.

6 - Closed

We recommend that the EAC work with the Office to resolve the one remaining unsupported County reimbursement.

7 - Closed

We recommend that the EAC require the Office to transfer into the election fund any amount which remains unsupported.

8 - Closed

We recommend that the EAC require the Office to develop and implement policies and procedures and provide training to ensure adequate documentation is maintained to support the allowability of expenditures charged to the HAVA grant.

Election Assistance Commission OIG

Audit of the Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

EAC OIG, through the independent public accounting firm of McBride, Lock & Associates, LLC, audited funds received by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania under the Help America Vote Act, including state matching funds and interest earned, totaling $53.4 million. This included Election Security, reissued Section 251, and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act grants.

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Audit | 9/22/2022

Election Assistance Commission OIG

Audit of the Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the State of Delaware

EAC OIG, through the independent public accounting firm of McBride, Lock & Associates, LLC, audited funds received by the State of Delaware under the Help America Vote Act, including state matching funds and interest earned, totaling $20 million. This included Election Security and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act grants.

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Audit | 9/21/2022

1 - Closed

We recommend that the EAC require the Office to transfer to the election fund $629,248 for the unsupported costs cited above.

2 - Closed

We recommend that the EAC require the Office to implement policies and procedures or training to ensure adequate documentation is maintained to support the allowability of expenditures charged to the HAVA grant, including maintaining copies of invoices paid, contracts from which purchases were made and purchase orders for purchases exceeding $10,000.

3 - Closed

We recommend the EAC require the Office to provide the inventory listing maintained by the IT Department and each County.

4 - Closed

We recommend the EAC require the Office to implement policies and procedures or training to ensure that assets are managed in accordance Uniform Guidance and the State of Delaware’s policy.

5 - Closed

We recommend the EAC require the Office to ensure that documented policies and procedures related to internal controls and asset management are established and implemented in accordance with the State of Delaware’s policy. Implementation should include policies to review and update the procedures on a regular basis.

6 - Closed

We recommend that the EAC require the Office to provide transaction detail of interest income earned for the Election Security and CARES Act grants.

7 - Closed

We recommend that the EAC require the Office to complete and file FFRs for the Section 251 funds or if the Office is unable to complete the Section 251 FFR, obtain financial services to support the completion of the filings.

8 - Closed

We recommend that the EAC require the Office to implement procedures and training to properly fill out the required FFRs, which reflect the uses of award funds and the interest income generated from those funds for all HAVA grants.

Election Assistance Commission OIG

Audit of the Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the State of Washington

EAC OIG, through the independent public accounting firm of McBride, Lock & Associates, LLC, audited funds received by the State of Washington under the Help America Vote Act, including state matching funds and program income, totaling $30.3 million. This included Election Security and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act grants.

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Audit | 9/06/2022

Election Assistance Commission OIG

Audit of the Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the State of Indiana

EAC OIG, through the independent public accounting firm of McBride, Lock & Associates, LLC, audited funds received by the State of Indiana under the Help America Vote Act, including state matching funds and program income, totaling $26.3 million. This included Election Security and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act grants.

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Audit | 9/02/2022

Election Assistance Commission OIG

Audit of the Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the State of Ohio

EAC OIG, through the independent public accounting firm of McBride, Lock & Associates, LLC, audited funds received by the State of Ohio under the Help America Vote Act, including state matching funds and interest earned, totaling $45.2 million. This included Election Security and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act grants.

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Election Assistance Commission OIG

Audit of the Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the State of Arizona

EAC OIG, through the independent public accounting firm of McBride, Lock & Associates, LLC, audited funds received by the State of Arizona under the Help America Vote Act, including state matching funds and interest earned, totaling $27.6 million.

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Audit | 8/09/2022

Election Assistance Commission OIG

Cancellation: Audit of the Administration of Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Funds by the State of Georgia

The purpose of this memorandum is to notify stakeholders of the decision to cancel the EAC OIG audit of the administration of HAVA funds by the State of Georgia.

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Department of Commerce OIG

NIST Was Effective in Implementing the Requirements for Awarding Funds Under the CARES Act

Our objective was to determine whether NIST is complying with the requirements of the CARES Act. Specifically, we determined (1) what steps NIST took to implement and comply with the CARES Act, (2) challenges NIST faced during implementation, and (3) NIST’s status in the processing of applications and awarding funds under the CARES Act. Overall, we found that NIST implemented and followed the requirements of the CARES Act and applicable grant award policies and procedures. In addition, NIST implemented measures to mitigate challenges resulting from an increased workload and a forced transition...

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Department of Commerce OIG

NOAA Fisheries Implemented the Requirements for Awarding Funds Under the CARES Act but Faces Challenges with the Pace of Funds Disbursement to Fishery Participants

For our evaluation of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS, also known as NOAA Fisheries) plan for the implementation of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) funding, our objective was to determine whether NOAA complied with the requirements of the CARES Act. Specifically, we determined (1) what steps NOAA took in implementing the requirements for awarding funds, (2) challenges NOAA faced during implementation, and (3) NOAA’s current status in processing applications and award funds under the CARES Act...

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Department of Commerce OIG

EDA Was Effective in Implementing the Requirements for Awarding Funds Under the CARES Act

This memorandum provides the results of our evaluation of the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA’s) plan for the implementation of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act)1 funding. Our objective was to determine whether EDA implemented and followed the requirements of the CARES Act. Specifically, we determined (1) what steps EDA took in implementing the CARES Act, (2) challenges EDA faced during implementation, and (3) EDA’s ongoing efforts in awarding funds under the CARES Act. Overall, we found that EDA implemented and followed the requirements of the CARES Act...

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Department of Commerce OIG

2020 Census Alert: The Census Bureau Faces Challenges in Ensuring Employee Health Safety During 2020 Census Field Operations

OIG issued this 2020 Census Alert due to our concerns—about the Census Bureau’s (Bureau’s) inconsistent implementation of safety procedures to prevent the spread of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) as it completed its 2020 Census operations—that required immediate attention. Based on the number and consistency of COVID-19-related OIG hotline complaints that we received, we were concerned that the Bureau was not fully complying with key elements of its own COVID-19 safety requirements—or operating fully in line with recommended guidance provided by the Department of Commerce (the Department), the U...

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Date Range

Report Category

Submitting Agency

Agency Reviewed

Any Recommendations

Any Open Recommendations

Reports

EDA Needs to Improve Oversight of CARES Act Revolving Loan Funds to Ensure Loans Are Made to Eligible Borrowers and Used as Intended

EDA Needs to Improve Oversight of CARES Act Revolving Loan Funds to Ensure Loans Are Made to Eligible Borrowers and Used as Intended

Puerto Rico’s Department of Natural and Environmental Resources Properly Disbursed Funds but Was Slow in Expending Fishery Disaster Assistance Funds

Audit of the Administration of Help American Vote Act Grants Awarded to the U.S. Virgin Islands

Audit of the Administration of Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the State of Georgia

Audit of the Administration of Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the State of Michigan

Audit of the Administration of Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the State of New Jersey

Audit of the Administration of Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the State of Iowa

Audit of the Administration of Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the State of Rhode Island

Audit of the Administration of Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the State of Tennessee

Independent Program Evaluation of National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Pandemic Relief Program

Cancellation: Audit of the Administration of Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Funds by the State of Minnesota

Audit of the Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the State of North Carolina

Audit of the Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the Territory of American Samoa

Audit of the Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the Territory of Guam

Audit of the HAVA Grants Awarded to the State of Wisconsin

Audit of the Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the State of Missouri

Audit of the Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the State of Alaska

Audit of the Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Audit of the Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the State of California

Audit of the Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Audit of the Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the State of Delaware

Audit of the Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the State of Washington

Audit of the Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the State of Indiana

Audit of the Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the State of Ohio

Audit of the Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the State of Arizona

Cancellation: Audit of the Administration of Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Funds by the State of Georgia

NIST Was Effective in Implementing the Requirements for Awarding Funds Under the CARES Act

NOAA Fisheries Implemented the Requirements for Awarding Funds Under the CARES Act but Faces Challenges with the Pace of Funds Disbursement to Fishery Participants

EDA Was Effective in Implementing the Requirements for Awarding Funds Under the CARES Act

2020 Census Alert: The Census Bureau Faces Challenges in Ensuring Employee Health Safety During 2020 Census Field Operations

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