Audits, Inspections, and Evaluations

Report Number	Title Sort descending	Issue Date	Fiscal Year
OIG-17-16-VR	We determined that the Colorado State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services’ additional technical assistance and continuous monitoring of Larimer County’s procurement and project-related activities are effective. We also verified that the County can document and account for its disaster-related costs on a project-by-project basis and that its policies and procedures are adequate to account for FEMA grant funds according to Federal regulations and FEMA guidelines. Because the verification review did not identify any issues requiring further actions from FEMA, the report contains no recommendations and we consider this verification review closed. >Verification Review of Larimer County, Colorado, OIG Audit Report (OIG-15-34-D)	01/04/2017	2017
OIG-20-14-VR	We determined that the Colorado Department of Public Safety, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management’s technical assistance and monitoring of the City of Evans’ (City) procurement and project-related activities are effective and that FEMA’s corrective actions met the intent of our recommendation 2. We also determined that the City awarded contracts according to Federal regulations and FEMA guidelines. If Colorado’s technical assistance and monitoring continue, FEMA should have reasonable assurance the City will spend the remaining $7.17 million in grant funds for eligible disaster work according to Federal regulations. >Verification Review of the City of Evans, Colorado - OIG Audit Report (OIG-16-78-D)	02/24/2020	2020
OIG-16-111-VR	Verification Review of Transportation Security Administration's Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques/Behavior Detection and Analysis Program	07/08/2016	2016
OIG-15-78-VR	We conducted a verification review to assess the U.S. Coast Guard's progress on the recommendations from our August 2012 report, U.S. Coast Guard's Acquisition of the Sentinel Class-Fast Response Cutter, (OIG-12-68). We periodically conduct verification reviews to evaluate progress on selected audit recommendations, including whether corrective actions achieved the intended result. The Coast Guard’s plans to reduce risks during the OPC acquisition show progress toward achieving the intended results of our recommendations. However, it is too early in the OPC acquisition to determine whether the Coast Guard has fully implemented its plans. According to Coast Guard officials, they took steps to mitigate risks early in the OPC acquisition as a result of our audit report recommendations. In January 2013, the Coast Guard revised its Major Systems Acquisition Manual to establish a design maturity level prior to Critical Design Review and to support low-rate initial production decisions with an operational assessment. We determined that the Coast Guard has established a design maturity level for the OPC and plans to conduct two low-rate initial production phases, each supported by operational assessments. >Verification Review of U.S. Coast Guard's Acquisition of the Sentinel Class – Fast Response Cutter (OIG-12-68)	06/01/2015	2015
OIG-17-23-VR	We determined that all corrective actions have been implemented for recommendations 1, 3 and 4, which were designed to increase the effectiveness of SAVE verification. In response to OIG recommendation 2, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) built and implemented an interface with the Department of Justice’s Immigration Review Information Exchange System in August 2016 to obtain up-to-date information on the status of deportable aliens. While the interface is operational, USCIS and the Department of Justice’s Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR) still need to approve an Interface Control Agreement between the two systems before we can close the recommendation. >Verification Review of USCIS' Progress in Implementing OIG Recommendations for SAVE to Accurately Determine Immigration Status of Individuals Ordered Deported	01/18/2017	2017
OIG-18-61	We conducted a verification review to determine the adequacy, effectiveness, and timeliness of USCIS' corrective actions to address the seven report recommendations in Better Safeguards Are Needed in USCIS Green Card Issuance, OIG-17-11, November 16, 2016. At the time of our audit fieldwork in spring 2016, USCIS’ efforts to address the errors were inadequate. USCIS conducted a number of efforts to recover the inappropriately issued cards; however, these efforts also were not fully successful. At the time of our audit fieldwork in spring 2016, USCIS’ efforts to address the errors were inadequate. USCIS conducted a number of efforts to recover the inappropriately issued cards; however, these efforts also were not fully successful. >Verification Review: Better Safeguards Are Needed in USCIS Green Card Issuance (OIG-17-11)	04/16/2018	2018
OIG-17-50-VR	We determined that FEMA did not implement our recommendations and suspended improvements on existing information technology systems. We recommended that FEMA include an enterprise solution in its Grants Management Modernization platform for tracking applicant compliance with the Public Assistance Program insurance requirements that are a condition of receiving a disaster assistance grant. >Verification Review: FEMA's Lack of Process for Tracking Public Assistance Insurance Requirements Places Billions of Tax Dollars at Risk	06/09/2017	2017
OIG-14-48	The audit objectives were to determine whether the State distributed, administered, and spent State Homeland Security Program grant funds strategically, effectively, and in compliance with laws, regulations, and guidance. We also addressed the extent to which funds awarded enhanced the ability of State grantees to prevent, prepare for, protect against, and respond to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other manmade disasters. The State of Vermont received grant awards of approximately $14.6 million in State Homeland Security Program grant funds for fiscal years 2010 through 2012. >Vermont's Management of State Homeland Security Program Grants Awarded During Fiscal Years 2010 Through 2012	03/07/2014	2014
OIG-18-62	The Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority, through its main engineering contractor (Contractor C), presented incorrect data and misinformed FEMA in obtaining a Federal grant of more than $33 million for its pipeline replacement and relocation project. Authority officials wanted to move the pipeline outside of the Mojave Riverbed, but noted the high cost to do so. Authority officials knew that replacing and relocating the pipeline was the most expensive repair option, as their Contractors A and C informed them. However, through Contractor C, Authority officials repeatedly provided FEMA incorrect data that made Alternative 2 appear to be the least expensive. Based on the incorrect information Authority officials provided, FEMA funded $11 million for the replacement and relocation project in 2013 and an additional $22 million in 2014, a total of $33 million. We question the entire $33 million as ineligible because the Authority did not comply with Federal regulations, and FEMA policies and procedures, in preparing cost estimates for FEMA. >Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority, California, Provided FEMA Incorrect Information for Its $33 Million Project	04/26/2018	2018
OIG-21-30	Violations of Detention Standards Amidst COVID-19 Outbreak at La Palma Correctional Center in Eloy, AZ	03/30/2021	2021
OIG-23-13	Violations of Detention Standards at ICE’s Port Isabel Service Processing Center	02/01/2023	2023
OIG-21-46	During our unannounced inspection of Adams in Natchez, Mississippi, we identified violations of ICE detention standards that threatened the health, safety, and rights of detainees. Although Adams generally provided sufficient medical care, we identified one case in which the medical unit examined a sick detainee but did not send the detainee to the hospital for urgent medical treatment, and the detainee died. We also found the medical unit did not document outcomes of detainee sick calls or ensure proper review and follow-up of detainee test results. In addressing COVID-19, Adams took some measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but detainees did not consistently follow some guidelines, including use of facial coverings and social distancing, which may have contributed to repeated COVID-19 transmissions. Adams did not meet standards for classification, grievances, segregation, or staff-detainee communications. Specifically, we discovered a low custody detainee comingled with higher custody detainees, and found the facility did not always identify detainees with special vulnerabilities or those requiring translation services. Adams also did not respond timely to detainee grievances and was not consistently providing required care for detainees in segregation including access to recreation, legal calls, laundry, linen exchange, mail, legal materials, commissary, law library, and to ICE forms and drop-boxes for detainees to make requests. In addition, ICE did not consistently respond to detainee requests timely. Finally, we determined the declining detainee population at Adams resulted in ICE paying more than $17 million for unused bed space under a guaranteed minimum contract. We made seven recommendations to ICE’s Executive Associate Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) to ensure the New Orleans ERO Field Office overseeing Adams addresses identified issues and ensures facility compliance with relevant detention standards. ICE concurred with all seven recommendations. >Violations of ICE Detention Standards at Adams County Correctional Center	07/14/2021	2021
OIG-22-47	Violations of ICE Detention Standards at Folkston Processing Center and Folkston Annex	06/30/2022	2022
OIG-21-61	During our unannounced inspection of Otay Mesa in San Diego, California, we identified violations of ICE detention standards that compromised the health, safety, and rights of detainees. Otay Mesa complied with standards for classification and generally provided sufficient medical care to detainees. In addressing COVID-19, Otay Mesa did not consistently enforce precautions including use of facial coverings and social distancing. Overall, we found that Otay Mesa did not meet standards for grievances, segregation, or staff-detainee communications. Specifically, Otay Mesa did not respond timely to detainee grievances and did not forward staff misconduct grievances to ICE as required. In addition, Otay Mesa was not consistently providing required services for detainees in segregation including access to recreation, legal calls, laundry, linen exchange, mail, legal materials, commissary, and law library. Further, ICE did not consistently respond to detainee requests timely and did not specify times for visits with detainees. Finally, we determined the declining detainee population at Otay Mesa caused ICE to pay more than $22 million for unused bed space under a guaranteed minimum contract. We made seven recommendations to ICE’s Executive Associate Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations to ensure the San Diego ERO Field Office overseeing Otay Mesa addresses identified issues and ensures facility compliance with relevant detention standards. ICE concurred with six recommendations and non-concurred with one recommendation. >Violations of ICE Detention Standards at Otay Mesa Detention Center	09/14/2021	2021
OIG-21-32	During our unannounced inspection of Pulaski County Jail, we identified violations of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention standards that threatened the health, safety, and rights of detainees. In addressing COVID-19, Pulaski did not consistently enforce precautions including use of facial coverings and social distancing, which may have contributed to repeated COVID-19 transmissions at the facility. Pulaski did not meet standards for classification, medical care, segregation, or detainee communication. We found that the facility was not providing a color-coded visual identification system based on the criminal history of detainees, causing inadvertent comingling of a detainee with significant criminal history with detainees who had no criminal history. The facility generally provided sufficient medical care, but did not provide emergency dental services and the medical unit did not have procedures in place for chronic care follow-up. We also found that the facility was not consistently providing required oversight for detainees in segregation by conducting routine wellness checks. Finally, we found deficiencies in staff communication practices with detainees. Specifically, ICE did not specify times for staff to visit detainees and could not provide documentation that it completed facility visits with detainees during the pandemic. We did find that Pulaski generally complied with the ICE detention standard for grievances. We made five recommendations to ICE’s Executive Associate Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) to ensure the Chicago ERO Field Office overseeing Pulaski addresses identified issues and ensures facility compliance with relevant detention standards. ICE concurred with all five recommendations. >Violations of ICE Detention Standards at Pulaski County Jail	04/29/2021	2021
OIG-23-18	Violations of ICE Detention Standards at Richwood Correctional Center in Monroe, Louisiana	02/28/2023	2023
OIG-22-40	Violations of ICE Detention Standards at South Texas ICE Processing Center	04/22/2022	2022
OIG-22-75	Violations of ICE Detention Standards at Torrance County Detention Facility	09/28/2022	2022
DA-13-04	Virgin Islands Department of Public Works, FEMA Disaster No. 1126-DR-VI	02/06/2004	2004
DA-10-13	>Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority	07/08/2010	2010
DA-10-11	>Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority	06/02/2010	2010
DA_07-03	Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority,	11/16/2006	2007
OIG-09-101	>Vulnerabilities Highlight the Need for More Effective Web Security Management (Redacted)	09/10/2009	2009
OIG-16-121-D	Washington County, Florida, (County) received an award of $13.9 million from the Florida Division of Emergency Management Agency (Florida), a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grantee, for damages resulting from a July 2013 flood. We audited 14 projects totaling $3.6 million. Our audit objective was to determine whether the County accounted for and expended FEMA funds according to Federal requirements. >Washington County, Florida, Effectively Managed FEMA Public Assistance Grant Funds Awarded for a July 2013 Flood	08/19/2016	2016
DD-06-05	Washington Parish Contracting Problems	11/14/2005	2006
W-01-03	Watsonville Community Hospital, Watsonville, CA, Public Assistance ID No. 087-90302, FEMA Disaster No. 845-DR-CA,	10/15/2002	2002
OIG-14-152-D	Our audit objective was to determine whether the Utility District accounted for and expended Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds according to Federal regulations and FEMA guidelines. The Utility District received a Public Assistance grant award of $2.5 million from the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (Mississippi), a FEMA grantee, for damages resulting from Hurricane Katrina, which occurred in August 2005. The award provided 100 percent FEMA funding for debris removal activities, emergency protective measures, and repairs to permanent buildings and facilities. The award consisted of three large projects and six small projects. >West Jackson County Utility District, Mississippi, Effectively Managed FEMA Public Assistance Grant Funds Awarded for Hurricane Katrina Damages	09/19/2014	2014
DA-05-04	West Virginia Department of Transportation, FEMA Disaster No. 1229-DR-WV	11/18/2003	2004
DA-09-11	>West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Managem	02/27/2009	2009
DD-06-06	Western Farmers Electric Cooperative, Anadarko, OK, FEMA Disaster No. DR-1401-OK, Public Assistance ID No. 000-U05EF-00, Audit	01/17/2006	2006
DD-09-05	Western Farmers Electric Cooperative, Anadarko, Oklahoma FEMA Disaster Number DR-1355-OK Public Assistance Identification Number 000-U05EF-00	09/01/2005	2009
OIG-17-19-D	We determined that the Cooperative has an effective accounting system in place to ensure it accounts for disaster-related costs on a project-by-project basis and can properly support those expenditures. As of June 2016, Cooperative officials had completed all disaster repairs using their own resources and contractors. However, Cooperative officials said they do not intend to claim $4.1 million in contracting costs because they believe their contracting methodology did not fully comply with Federal requirements when hiring disaster contractors. Therefore, we did not assess the Cooperative’s procurement policies and procedures, nor review its contract costs. Because the audit did not identify any issues requiring further action from FEMA, we consider this audit closed. >Western Farmers Electric Cooperative, Oklahoma, Has Adequate Policies, Procedures, and Business Practices to Manage its FEMA Grant	01/10/2017	2017
OIG-17-95-D	We determined that The Hospital accounted for FEMA funds on a project-by-project basis as Federal regulations and FEMA guidelines require. However, as of February 2017, the Hospital had not arranged for an audit of its Federal award, which it must complete and submit to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse by June 30, 2017. We recommended that the Regional Administrator, FEMA Region IV, direct the South Carolina Emergency Division to actively monitor the Hospital’s compliance with the annual audit requirements. If the Hospital does not meets it audit requirement by the June 30, 2017, due date, FEMA should direct South Carolina to impose appropriate additional award conditions to ensure the integrity of the FEMA award. >Williamsburg Regional Hospital, South Carolina, Generally Accounted for and Expended FEMA Grant Funds Awarded for Emergency Work Properly	07/06/2017	2017
OIG-13-33	The objectives of the audit were to determine whether the State of Wisconsin (1) spent grant funds effectively and efficiently; (2) complied with applicable Federal laws and regulations and DHS guidelines governing the use of such funding; and (3) enhanced the ability of State grantees to prevent, prepare for, protect against, and respond to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other manmade disasters. The audit included a review of approximately $43 million in State Homeland Security Program and Urban Areas Security Initiative grant funds awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to Wisconsin from fiscal years 2008 through 2010. >Wisconsin’s Management of Homeland Security Program and Urban Areas Security Initiative Grants Awarded During Fiscal Years 2008 Through 2010	01/30/2013	2013
OIG-16-118-D	Wisner-Pilger Public Schools (Wisner-Pilger) received a $7.9 million Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant award for damages from severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding in June 2014. We conducted this audit early in the grant process to identify areas where Wisner-Pilger may need additional technical assistance or monitoring to ensure compliance. >Wisner-Pilger Public Schools, Nebraska, Took Corrective Actions to Comply with Federal Grant Award Requirements	08/16/2016	2016
DD-05-04	Wyoming State Forestry Division, Cheyenne, WY, Public Assistance ID No. 00-UDLS2-00	12/11/2003	2004
OIG-14-31	The audit objectives were to determine whether the State of Wyoming distributed, administered, and spent State Homeland Security Program grant funds strategically, effectively, and in compliance with laws, regulations, and guidance. We also addressed the extent to which funds awarded enhanced the ability of State grantees to prevent, prepare for, protect against, and respond to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other manmade disasters. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded the State of Wyoming approximately $15 million in State Homeland Security Program grant funds during fiscal years 2010 through 2012. >Wyoming's Management of State Homeland Security Program Grants Awarded During Fiscal Years 2010 Through 2012	02/07/2014	2014
DD-11-12	We audited public assistance (PA) grant funds awarded to the City of Paso Robles, California (City). Our audit objective was to determine whether the City accounted for and expended Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant funds according to federal regulations and FEMA guidelines. The City received a PA award of $6.6 million from the California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA), 1 a FEMA grantee, for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and permanent repairs to facilities damaged as a result of the San Simeon earthquake of December 22, 2003. City officials accounted for FEMA grant funds on a project-by-project basis, as required. However, they did not comply with federal regulations and FEMA guidelines for $1,110,952 in project charges. Table 1 summarizes our questioned costs. >Xavier University of Louisiana	04/04/2011	2011
DD-10-19	>Xavier University of Louisiana, Contracting	09/24/2010	2010
OIG-22-38	Yuma Sector Border Patrol Struggled to Meet TEDS Standards for Single Adult Men but Generally Met TEDS Standards for Other Populations	04/14/2022	2022

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