Recommendations that funds be put to better use estimate funds that could be used more efficiently. For example, recommendations that funds be put to better use could result in reductions in spending, deobligation of funds, or avoidance of unnecessary spending.
Recommendations with questioned costs identify costs: (A) resulting from an alleged violation of a law, regulation, contract, grant, or other document or agreement governing the use of Federal funds; (B) that are not supported by adequate documentation (also known as an unsupported cost); or (C) that appear unnecessary or unreasonable.
Sensitive information refers to information that could have a damaging import if released to the public and, therefore, must be restricted from public disclosure.
We believe these open recommendations, if implemented, will have the greatest impact on helping HUD achieve its mission to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.
2023-IG-002 | May 31, 2023
Management Alert: HUD Should Take Additional Steps to Protect Contractor Employees Who Disclose Wrongdoing
Special Inquiry
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2023-IG-002-1
HUD (a) identify all contracts related to its programs that pre-date July 1, 2013 and that have not yet been modified to include Section 4712 whistleblower protections; and (b) review all contracts entered into on or after July 1, 2013, to ensure they include a clause that requires contractors to comply with Section 4712.
2023-CH-0004 | May 30, 2023
HUD Can Improve Its Oversight of the Physical Condition of Public Housing Developments
Public and Indian Housing
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2023-CH-0004-002-C
We recommend that the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Field Operations develop and implement a nationwide protocol for field offices, describing how PHA self-inspections should be reviewed, based on REAC’s determination of the number and frequency of PHA self-Inspections. -
2023-CH-0004-002-B
Closed on September 20, 2023If REAC determines that 100 percent annual self-inspections are required, establish specific guidance to address the number of units and frequency of PHA self-inspections. If not required, REAC should evaluate whether HUD’s rationale for inspecting a statistical sample rather than 100 percent of public housing units remains appropriate. -
2023-CH-0004-002-A
Closed on September 20, 2023We recommend that the Deputy Assistant Secretary for REAC determine whether PHAs are required to perform annual inspections on 100 percent of their public housing units annually and issue clarifying guidance to all PHAs. -
2023-CH-0004-001-C
We recommend that the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Field Operations implement a system to track field office inspection review activities and create a repository for the support documentation collected to verify the correction of life-threatening deficiencies. -
2023-CH-0004-001-B
We recommend that the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Field Operations develop and implement training for field offices that addresses reviewing or following up with PHAs about the correction of life-threatening and non-life-threatening deficiencies and how (1) to review physical inspection reports to effectively ensure that PHAs correct physical deficiencies, (2) PHAs should address or correct each type of deficiency observed in the REAC physical inspection report, and (3) to use PASS or any future tracking system. -
2023-CH-0004-001-A
We recommend that the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Field Operations develop and implement a nationwide inspection review protocol, which includes but is not limited to (1) whether field office staff should mark verification of PHA corrections of life-threatening deficiencies in PASS or any future tracking systems, (2) acceptable documentation for offsite verifications, and (3) whether field office staff should discuss or verify corrections of non-life-threatening deficiencies.
2023-CH-1002 | May 24, 2023
The Stark Metropolitan Housing Authority, Canton, OH, Did Not Always Comply With Federal and Its Own Procurement Requirements
Public and Indian Housing
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2023-CH-1002-001-I
Closed on September 06, 2023We also recommend that the Director of HUD’s Cleveland Office of Public Housing determine whether the Authority qualifies for an exemption from preaward review. -
2023-CH-1002-001-H
For the contract activities during the period of January 1, 2020, through April 2022, the Director should require the Authority to implement adequate procedures and controls, including but not limited to ensuring that (1) proper documentation is maintained, (2) contracts are procured in accordance with Federal and the Authority’s procurement requirements, (3) procurement staff complies with Federal procurement requirements, and (4) payments are appropriately reconciled. -
2023-CH-1002-001-G
For the contract activities during the period of January 1, 2020, through April 2022, the Director should require the Authority to ensure that its staff is appropriately trained and familiar with Federal procurement requirements regarding cost estimates and cost analyses. -
2023-CH-1002-001-F
For the contract activities during the period of January 1, 2020, through April 2022, the Director should require the Authority to support the contract modifications and the reasonableness of the increased costs for four contracts (0824, 0505, 1023 and 0731) or repay its Public Housing Operating Fund or Capital Fund program from non-Federal funds for any amount determined not to be reasonable. -
2023-CH-1002-001-E
For the contract activities during the period of January 1, 2020, through April 2022, the Director should require the Authority to support the reasonableness of the change orders that increased the price of the contract (0216) by more than $1.1 million or repay its Public Housing Operating Fund or Capital Fund program from non-Federal funds for any amount determined not to be reasonable. -
2023-CH-1002-001-D
$57,902For the contract activities during the period of January 1, 2020, through April 2022, the Director should require the Authority to support the reasonableness of $57,902 paid to three vendors for pest control services without a valid contract or repay its Public Housing Operating Fund or Capital Fund program from non-Federal funds for any amount determined not to be reasonable. -
2023-CH-1002-001-C
$48,310We recommend that the Director of HUD’s Cleveland Office of Public Housing require the Authority to support the $48,310 in excess costs paid for landscaping services or reimburse its program from non-Federal funds. -
2023-CH-1002-001-B
We recommend that the Director of HUD’s Cleveland Office of Public Housing require the Authority to Support the reasonableness of the amounts paid for the two noncompetitively awarded contracts (0917 and 1125) that lacked adequate support for the independent cost estimate and price analysis or repay its Public Housing Operating Fund or Capital Fund program from non-Federal funds for any amount determined not to be reasonable. -
2023-CH-1002-001-A
$80,685We recommend that the Director of HUD’s Cleveland Office of Public Housing require the Authority to Support the reasonableness of $80,685 paid to a vendor for pest control services without a valid contract or repay its Public Housing Operating Fund or Capital Fund program from non-Federal funds for any amount determined not to be reasonable.
2023-CH-0003 | May 23, 2023
Improvements Are Needed To Ensure That Public Housing Properties Are Inspected in a Timely Manner
Public and Indian Housing
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2023-CH-0003-001-B
Implement adequate policies, procedures, and controls to ensure that public housing properties will be inspected within required timeframes. -
2023-CH-0003-001-A
Prioritize the inspection of public housing properties that were (1) not included in the NSPIRE demonstration but were identified as high priority under the Center’s Big Inspection Plan and (2) approved to participate under the NSPIRE demonstration that the Center was unable to inspect by March 31, 2023.
2023-FO-0009 | May 22, 2023
HUD Did Not Comply with the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019
Chief Financial Officer
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2023-FO-0009-002-C
Closed on September 29, 2023Reassess the Homeless Assistance Grants program as part of the fiscal year 2023 risk assessment. -
2023-FO-0009-002-B
Closed on September 29, 2023Until program-specific fraud risk assessments are completed, revise the PIIA fraud risk questionnaire process to compensate for the lack of program-specific fraud risk assessments.