Department of Commerce
Improper Payments Website
Background
The Improper Payments Information Act (IPIA) of 2002, as amended by the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act (IPERA) of 2010 and the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Improvement Act of 2012, requires agencies to periodically review all programs and activities and identify those that may be susceptible to significant improper payments, take multiple actions when programs and activities are identified as susceptible to significant improper payments, and annually report information on their improper payments monitoring and minimization efforts. The Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) Circular A-123, Management’s Responsibility for Enterprise Risk Management and Internal Control, Appendix C, Requirements for Effective Measurement and Remediation of Improper Payments, defines an improper payment (1) and provides guidance to agencies to comply with IPIA, as amended, and for agency improper payments efforts. The Department of Commerce (Department) has not itself identified any programs or activities susceptible to significant improper payments.
On January 29, 2013, the President signed into law the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act (Act), which provides a total of $50.5 billion government-wide in aid for Hurricane Sandy disaster victims and their communities. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) received $326 million of funds under the Act for Hurricane Sandy recovery and other disaster-related activities. Pursuant to OMB Memorandum M-13-07, Accountability for Funds Provided by the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act (March 12, 2013), the Department in March 2013 submitted its final plan for accountability, internal controls, and other requirements for funds provided to NOAA that are deemed by OMB as susceptible to significant improper payments for the purposes of requirements under IPIA of 2002, as amended, and is required to calculate and report an annual improper payments estimate.
Executive Order 13520, Reducing Improper Payments and Eliminating Waste in Federal Programs, was issued on November 20, 2009, to help federal agencies reduce and prevent improper payments through increased transparency and improved agency accountability. The Executive Order requires that, along with other requirements, federal agencies with high-priority or risk-susceptible programs (for purposes of improper payments) name accountable officers for improper payments; monitor any such programs; establish goals for reducing improper payments; and report high-dollar improper payments. The Department established, as required, a prominently displayed link on its home page to internet-based resources on addressing improper payments, and also provides on this web page a web link to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s (Treasury) improper payments web site (see PaymentAccuracy.gov website information discussed on this web page).
The Department does not have any programs/activities that OMB has determined to be a “high-priority” program with regard to improper payments under Executive Order 13520.
The Department does not have any programs/activities that have improper payments exceeding the statutory thresholds listed in OMB Circular A-123, Appendix C, Part I, Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery, section A.9., Step 1, which are defined as gross annual improper payments (i.e., the total amount of overpayments and underpayments) in the program/activity exceeding (1) both 1.5 percent of program outlays and $10 million of all program or activity payments made during the fiscal year reported; or (2) $100 million (regardless of the improper payments percentage of total program outlays).
OMB issued implementation guidance for Executive Order 13520 by updating OMB Circular A-123, Appendix C, Part III, Requirements for Implementing Executive Order 13520: Reducing Improper Payments. Agencies should track improper payments identified and recaptured through various agency endeavors. OMB Circular A-123, Appendix C, Part I indicates the following possible sources of improper payments information:
- Statistical samples and risk assessments;
- Agency post-payment reviews;
- Prior payment recapture audits;
- Agency Inspector General reviews;
- U.S. Government and Accountability Office reviews;
- Self-reported errors;
- Reports from the public; and
- Results of agency audit resolution and follow-up process.
The Department recognizes the importance of maintaining adequate internal controls to ensure proper payments, and the Department’s commitment to continuous improvement in the overall disbursement management process remains high. Each of the Department’s payment offices has implemented policies and procedures to detect and prevent improper payments. For FY 2017 and beyond, the Department will continue its efforts to ensure the integrity of its disbursements.
(1) An improper payment is any payment that should not have been made or that was made in an incorrect amount under statutory, contractual, administrative, or other legally applicable requirements. Incorrect amounts are overpayments or underpayments that are made to eligible recipients (including inappropriate denials of payment or service, any payment that does not account for credit for applicable discounts, payments that are for an incorrect amount, and duplicate payments). An improper payment also includes any payment that was made to an ineligible recipient or for an ineligible good or service, or payments for goods or services not received (except for such payments authorized by law). In addition, when an agency’s review is unable to discern whether a payment was proper as a result of insufficient or lack of documentation, this payment must also be considered an improper payment.
The term “payment” in this guidance means any disbursement or transfer of Federal funds (including a commitment for future payment, such as cash, securities, loans, loan guarantees, and insurance subsidies) to any non-Federal person, non-Federal entity, or Federal employee, that is made by a Federal agency, a Federal contractor, a Federal grantee, or a governmental or other organization administering a Federal program or activity. The term “payment” includes Federal awards subject to the Single Audit Act and the Uniform Guidance for Federal assistance (2 CFR 200 Subpart F) (Single Audits) that are expended by both recipients and sub-recipients.
Department of Commerce Improper Payments Annual Reporting
Detailed information on the Department’s improper payments monitoring, minimization, and recapture efforts is included in the Department’s FY 2016 Agency Financial Report, Other Information, Improper Payments Information Act (IPIA) of 2002, As Amended, Reporting Details, at the following web link:
http://www.osec.doc.gov/ofm/OFM_Publications.html.Please find below a summary of the Department’s efforts.
Department of Commerce Improper Payments Monitoring/Minimization Efforts
Funds Received by NOAA under Disaster Relief Appropriations Act:
The Department submitted to OMB in April 2016 a sampling methodology plan for FY 2015 disbursements made under the Act by NOAA. In May 2016, testing of FY 2015 disbursements was completed by an independent contractor, in order to yield a statistically valid improper payments estimate as required by OMB Circular A-123, Appendix C. The independent contractor tested each sample item selected for improper payments. The independent contractor and NOAA determined that the of the sample items tested for improper payments, there was a statistically valid estimate of improper payments (overpayments) of $51 thousand for NOAA FY 2015 disbursements of funds received under the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act.
Review of Internal Controls over Disbursement Processes:
The Department annually conducts an assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, in compliance with OMB Circular A-123. Furthermore, every three years, the assessment includes a review of internal controls over disbursement processes, including Department-wide sample testing of disbursements for improper payments and for appropriate internal control attributes. The most recent review performed indicated that internal controls over disbursement processes were sound.
Improper Payments Risk Assessments:
Each of the Department’s bureaus/reporting entities periodically completes or updates, over a one to three-year period (depending on the size of the entity), improper payments risk assessments covering all of its programs/activities as required by OMB Circular A-123, Appendix C. These improper payments risk assessments of the entity’s programs/activities also incorporate improper payments risk assessments every three years of the control, procurement, and grants management environments. The program/activity improper payments risk assessments performed in 2016 and 2015 address the nine minimum improper payments risk factors set forth in OMB Circular A-123, Appendix C that should be addressed, which are: whether the program or activity reviewed is new to the agency; the complexity of the program or activity reviewed, particularly with respect to determining correct payment amounts; the volume of payments made annually; whether payments or payment eligibility decisions are made outside of the agency, for example, by a state or local government, or a regional federal office; recent major changes in program funding, authorities, practices, or procedures; the level, experience, and quality of training for personnel responsible for making program eligibility determinations or certifying that payments are accurate; the inherent risks of improper payments due to the nature of agency programs or operations; significant deficiencies in the audit reports of the agency including, but not limited to, the agency Inspector General or the U.S. General Accountability Office audit report findings, or other relevant management findings; and results from prior improper payment work.
None of the improper payments risk assessments performed in FY 2016 (or performed in prior fiscal years) revealed any programs or activities considered susceptible to significant improper payments.Quarterly Improper Payments Reporting:
The Department has continuous processes in place and actively works with each of the Department’s payment offices to identify and implement additional procedures to prevent and detect improper payments. In FY 2017, the Department continues with the bureaus’ quarterly reporting of improper payments, and payment recaptures data, to the Department’s Deputy Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Director for Financial Management, along with identifying the nature of larger improper payments and identifying any necessary control enhancements. The Department additionally reviews all financial statement audit findings/comments and results of any other payment reviews for indications of breaches of disbursement controls. None of these audit findings/comments or reviews to-date have uncovered any significant problems with the internal controls that surround disbursements.
The Department recognizes the importance of maintaining adequate internal controls to ensure proper payments, and its commitment to continuous improvement in disbursement management processes remains very strong. The Department’s CFO and Assistant Secretary for Administration has responsibility for establishing policies and procedures for assessing Departmental and program risks of improper payments, taking actions to reduce improper payments, and reporting the results of the actions to Departmental Management (DM) for oversight and other actions as deemed appropriate. The CFO and Assistant Secretary for Administration has designated the Deputy CFO and Director for Financial Management to oversee initiatives related to reducing improper payments within the Department, and to work closely with the bureau CFOs in this area.
In FY 2017, the Department continues its reporting procedures that require quarterly reporting to the Department by its bureaus on any improper payments, identifying the nature and magnitude of any improper payments along with any necessary control enhancements to prevent further occurrences of the types of improper payments identified. The Department’s analysis of the data collected from the bureaus shows that Department-wide improper payments were at or below two-tenths of one percent in FY 2016 and FY 2015. The bureau CFOs are accountable for internal controls over improper payments; and, for monitoring, minimizing, and recapturing improper payments, and implementing corrective actions as appropriate.
For FY 2017 and beyond, the Department will continue its efforts to ensure the integrity of its disbursements.
Payment Recapture Audits:
In conformity with IPIA, as amended, the Department has been performing, since 2005, annual payment recapture audits of closed contracts/obligations for many of the Department’s bureaus/reporting entities, on a rotational basis. In recent years, these payment recapture audits have been performed by an independent contractor; however, in the past, these payment recapture audits have also been conducted by the Department’s Office of Financial Management. Effective 2012, the scope of payment recapture audits of contracts/obligations was expanded to additionally include contracts/obligations for which the period of performance ended and last payment was made, however for which the closeout process has not yet been completed.
Annual payment recapture auditing is additionally performed by an independent contractor, effective 2011, for Department-wide grants and other cooperative agreements (i.e., financial assistance). Per OMB Circular A-123, Appendix C, intragovernmental transactions are not required to be reviewed.
For payment recapture audits, the independent contractor analyzes the reasons why any payment errors occurred, and develops, presents, and documents any recommendations for cost-effective controls to prevent improper payments in the future and/or to enhance the applicable bureau processes.
Do Not Pay Initiative:
The Department’s payment offices perform weekly, or daily (the Census Bureau) pre-payment eligibility reviews to the following Do Not Pay portal databases for the Department’s domestic, non-classified, non-employee-related, non-intragovernmental disbursements: (a) Social Security Administration’s Death Master File (DMF); (b) the U.S. General Services Administration’s System for Award Management (SAM) Exclusion Records; and (c) SAM Entity Registration Records (excluding the Census Bureau).
The pre-payment checking performed by the Department excludes pre-payment eligibility reviews of grantees under Treasury’s Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP), as Treasury performs continuous monitoring to the Do Not Pay portal of ASAP grantees. Bureau payment and acquisition offices, as appropriate, follow up on vendors initially matched to the Do Not Pay portal databases checked to, and perform further research as necessary to follow through and resolve the issues identified by the Do Not Pay portal matches. In most cases, the initial matches are subsequently determined by the Department to be false matches. Other Departmental offices are also consulted as appropriate.
Furthermore, the Department’s payment offices receive, from the Do Not Pay portal, monthly reports listing of payments made to the following databases: (a) DMF; and (b) SAM Exclusion Records. Payment offices research and follow up on matches, as appropriate, and submit to the Do Not Pay portal monthly Adjudication Reports summarizing the results of their efforts.
Post-payment Reviews and Other Procedures Performed:
Beyond the Department’s payment recapture audits program, the Department has extensive improper payments monitoring, recapturing, and corrective actions efforts in place, including the identification of improper payments through bureau post-payment reviews, the Department’s Office of Inspector General audits or reviews, Single Audit Act audits of grants/cooperative agreements, other grants/cooperative agreements audits, contract closeout reviews, grants/cooperative agreements closeout reviews, other audits or reviews, and Department-wide sample testing of disbursements under internal controls testing.
The Department additionally reviews financial statement audit findings/comments and results of any other payment reviews for indications of breaches of disbursement controls. None of these audit findings/comments or reviews to-date have uncovered any significant problems with the internal controls that surround disbursements.
Office of Inspector General Improper Payments Efforts
The Department’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) keeps the Department accountable for its use of federal funds by conducting audits, evaluations, and investigations of the Department’s programs and activities. The OIG’s Office of Audit and Evaluation supervises and conducts independent and objective audits and other reviews of the Department’s programs and activities to ensure they operate economically, efficiently, and effectively. The OIG’s Office of Investigations investigates alleged or suspected fraud, waste, abuse, and misconduct by Departmental employees, contractors, recipients of financial assistance, and others involved in the Department's programs and operations.
For more information about the OIG’s reports and activities, the following web link is provided: http://www.oig.doc.gov/Pages/default.aspx.
Report Fraud, Waste, Abuse, and Whistleblower Reprisal:
If you know of fraud, waste, abuse, or mismanagement in Department of Commerce programs and operations, report it to the OIG Hotline. This includes alleged/suspected wrongdoing by Department of Commerce employees, contractors, grantees, recipients of financial assistance, and others involved in the Department's programs and operations; and if you suspect that you have been retaliated against for whistleblowing. The OIG’s Report Fraud, Waste, Abuse, and Whistleblower Reprisal website is located at the following web link: http://www.oig.doc.gov/Pages/Hotline.aspx.PaymentAccuracy.gov Website
Executive Order 13520 established a requirement for a central website that will contain current and historical improper payments information. Treasury, in coordination with the U.S. Department of Justice and OMB, established the PaymentAccuracy.gov web site to create a centralized location to publish information about improper payments made to individuals, organizations, and contractors. This web site also provides a centralized place where suspected incidents of fraud, waste, and abuse can be reported, and contains information about 1) current and historical rates and amounts of improper payments; 2) why improper payments occur; and 3) what agencies are doing to reduce and recapture improper payments. The website also contains extensive information, guidance, and links to other useful resources for addressing improper payments.
Office of Financial Management
U.S. Department of Commerce
Page last updated December 16, 2016