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Abbreviation
DOC
Agencies
Department of Commerce
Federal Agency
Yes
Location

United States

What to Report to the OIG Hotline
Commerce OIG maintains a Hotline for receiving allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, or gross mismanagement in the Department of Commerce’s programs and operations, including any organization or entity receiving Departmental funds. The following is a list of examples of types of allegations that should be reported:
  • Contract and grant fraud
  • Environmental, health, and safety violations
  • Computer crimes (including internet pornography)
  • Product substitution and suspect/counterfeit parts
  • Bribery, kickbacks, and gratuities
  • False statements and false claims
  • Conflicts of interest and ethics violations
  • Travel fraud
  • Theft or abuse of government property
  • Gross mismanagement of funds
  • Other violations of federal laws and regulations
In addition, if you suspect that you have been retaliated against for whistleblowing, you may contact the Commerce OIG Hotline or the Office of Special Counsel.
What Not to Report to the OIG Hotline
Certain matters are better resolved through other channels, instead of the Commerce OIG Hotline. The following matters are NOT generally investigated by Commerce OIG:
  • 911 emergencies regarding a Departmental facility or operation. Report to the local or state law enforcement authorities and the Department of Commerce’s Office of Security.
  • Complaints of EEO discrimination and retaliation. Report to the Department of Commerce’s Office of Civil Rights.
  • Personal theft. Report to Department of Commerce’s Office of Security.
  • Personnel matters involving requests for individual relief. Report to the servicing Office of Human Resources Management.
  • Employment related grievances or complaints against management officials unless part of a whistleblower claim. Report to the servicing Office of Human Resources Management.
  • Assistance with the U.S. patent application process (e.g., initial filing, patent examination, and post-examination) and case prosecution concerns (e.g., claim objections, after-final practice, claim rejections and restrictions). Contact the Patents Ombudsman Office (https://www.uspto.gov/patent/ombudsman-program).

The Department Needs to Improve Oversight to Ensure the Success of Its Financial System Modernization

2024
OIG-24-014-A
Audit
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce

We audited the Department’s progress in managing and implementing the Business Applications Solution (BAS) program. BAS is an enterprise financial system that will modernize the Department’s aging and disparate systems. We found that although the program prepared for the National Oceanic and...

Independent Evaluation of the 2020 Decennial Census Evaluations and Experiments (EAE) Operation

2024
OIG-24-011-I
Inspection / Evaluation
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce

We contracted with the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), an independent firm, to evaluate the U.S. Census Bureau's EAE operation. The original objective was to determine whether the bureau prepared adequate and timely operational assessments that included the appropriate metrics to support...

The Department Needs to Strengthen Its Ethics Oversight for USPTO Patent Examiners

2024
OIG-24-013-I
Inspection / Evaluation
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce

For our evaluation of the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO’s) and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s (the Department’s) ethics oversight of USPTO patent examiners, our evaluation objective was to determine whether USPTO and the Department effectively administered ethics rules to...

The Department Needs to Fully Implement Strong Multifactor Authentication for Its High Value Assets to Protect Them from Cyberattacks

2024
OIG-24-009-A
Audit
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce

For our audit of the Department's multifactor authentication (MFA) for its high value assets (HVA), our objective was to determine whether the Department has implemented MFA for its HVAs in accordance with zero trust architecture (ZTA) principles. To address this objective, we determined the extent...

USPTO Must Improve Acquisition Planning to Ensure Efficient and Competitive Procurements

2024
OIG-24-008-A
Audit
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce

The objective of our audit was to determine whether USPTO’s processes and activities for acquisition planning are effective and consistent with established practices, procedures, and regulations. Overall, we found that USPTO’s processes and activities for acquisition planning were ineffective and...

Three Men Indicted for Environmental Crimes Committed in the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and Las Mareas Community of Salinas, Puerto Rico

Three Men Indicted for Environmental Crimes Committed in the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and Las Mareas Community of Salinas, Puerto Rico
Article Type
Investigative Press Release
Publish Date

Three Men Indicted for Environmental Crimes Committed in the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and Las Mareas Community of Salinas, Puerto Rico

Semiannual Report to Congress

2023
SAR-2023-09
Semiannual Report
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce

This report summarizes work we initiated and completed during this semiannual period on a number of critical U.S. Department of Commerce (Department) activities. Over the past 6 months, our office issued 10 products related to our audit, evaluation, and inspection work. These products addressed...

EDA Generally Monitored Grants Awarded Under the FY 2019 EDA Disaster Supplemental Notice of Funding Opportunity

2024
OIG-24-005-A
Audit
Department of Commerce OIG
Department of Commerce

For our audit of the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA’s) monitoring of fiscal year (FY) 2019 disaster relief grants, our objective was to determine whether EDA monitored grants awarded under the FY 2019 EDA Disaster Supplemental Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to ensure...

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