FederalDaily - March 21, 2006

TSP Scam

Participants in the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) need to be on the lookout for an e-mail scam meant to deceive individuals into divulging personal information, according to a warning posted on the TSP Web site last week. Some TSP participants have received an e-mail claiming to be from the TSP, advising that a new e-mail address had been added to the account. Members are asked to click on a link that redirects them to a bogus TSP Web site, and asks them for their Social Security and personal identification numbers. TSP emphasized that members should not give out personal information in unsolicited e-mails. In addition, TSP would not request such information via e-mail. The fraud warning is posted at www.tsp.gov/curinfo/emailscam.html.

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FBI at Risk for Questionable Contractor Payments

The FBI and General Services Administration (GSA) do not have adequate invoice review and approval processes to prevent improper contractor payments, according to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report recently submitted to Congress. The report focused on FBI and GSA oversight of the Trilogy project, the largest ever information technology (IT) upgrade for the FBI. Using data mining, GAO found that the FBI paid potentially $10.1 million in questionable contractor costs, including:

• excessive travel costs,
• incorrect overtime charges, and
• overcharged labor rates.

For the above and other questionable charges, GAO noted that the contractors could not provide supporting documentation. GAO also determined that the bureau cannot adequately account for IT assets. According to the report, the FBI is missing 1,200 pieces of computer equipment valued at $7.6 million. To view the full report, go to www.gao.gov/new.items/d06306.pdf.

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House Approves Ban on Permanent Bases in Iraq

The House approved an amendment this past Tuesday blocking the establishment of permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq. In a press release, Rep. David Price, D-N.C., cited uncertainty among Bush Administration officials as one reason for the action. During floor debate on the bill, Price noted that just over a week ago Zalmay Khalilzad—the U.S. ambassador for Iraq—said the U.S. did not plan to establish a permanent base in Iraq. However, just days later, General John Abizaid, the top Army commander for the Middle East, said that a long-term plan “hasn’t been formulated.” Price said, “If administration officials cannot make up their minds three years into this war, it is time Congress did it for them.”

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VA-DoD Health Care Sharing Opportunities

The Departments of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Defense (DoD) have implemented several successful resource-sharing products but do not have the necessary mechanisms in place to measure the success of such projects, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) said in a March 15 report. GAO found that, despite confusion over timelines and approval processes, 14 of 19 VA-DoD joint health care projects reached operational status as of December 2005. However, the entities in charge of resource-sharing could not assess advantages and disadvantages of projects to determine whether systems providing better care or savings could be replicated on a greater scale. Both agencies agreed with GAO’s recommendation to develop evaluation plans and performance measures to assess results against DoD and VA goals. For the full GAO report, go to www.gao.gov/new.items/d06315.pdf.

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