USPS | The Contracting Education Academy

October 12, 2018 By AMK

GAO reviews agency actions in the wake of Equifax data breach

It’s easy to forget that roughly a year ago, Equifax was hacked, which compromised the personal information of roughly 145.5 million individuals.

The scope of the breach was concerning for a number of reasons, not the least of which was the fact that Equifax was providing identity verification services for three federal agencies at the time it was attacked.

In a recent report, GAO reviewed how these agencies responded to the attack. While not making any specific recommendations at this time, GAO’s report does highlight the extent to which federal agencies were not fully prepared for cyberattacks on private contractors.

Prior to the Equifax breach, the IRS, the Social Security Administration, and USPS contracted with Equifax to provide identity verification services. These agencies relied on Equifax’s databases to verify the identities of individuals applying for various services. For example, the IRS used Equifax servers to verify identities for tax return purposes.

Following the Equifax cyberattack, agencies took a variety of steps to assess the situation and make proactive changes to their contracts with Equifax. Foremost was notifying impacted individuals. While there was no breach of agency systems in connection with the Equifax attack, there was nevertheless concern that impacted individuals may have had an increased risk for identity theft. Accordingly, one of the first actions taken by the impacted agencies was to notify impacted individuals.

Keep reading this article at: http://smallgovcon.com/uncategorized/gao-reviews-agency-actions-in-the-wake-of-equifax-data-breach/

February 24, 2016 By AMK

Contractor pleads guilty to bribing former USPS contracting official

Barbara Murphy of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, pleaded guilty on Feb. 10, 2016 to bribing a former contracting officer with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) in exchange for favorable treatment in connection with the awarding of contracts to deliver the mail.

The guilty plea was announced by U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and Special Agent in Charge Paul Bowman of the USPS Office of Inspector General.

According to a factual stipulation filed with the court, Murphy, 52 years of age, was the sole owner of ER&R Transportation and MC&G Trucking LLC, which she used to bid for and perform on transportation contracts with USPS. Murphy admitted that from January 2011 to July 2012, she bribed Gregory Cooper, a former USPS contracting officer representative. These bribes included cash paid directly into Cooper’s bank accounts, automobile loan payments, college tuition for Cooper’s daughter, five cell phone bill payments, an airline ticket, and fitness equipment, Murphy admitted.

Murphy admitted that she gave all of these benefits in exchange for Cooper’s favorable treatment of her companies when contracting opportunities with the USPS arose, in violation of Cooper’s lawful duty to the USPS. Specifically, Cooper recommended to his superiors that 10 USPS contracts on which Murphy bid during the relevant time period be awarded to Murphy’s companies, she admitted. Additionally, Murphy admitted that Cooper provided her with advice on how to address specific issues that arose from her contract performance and drafted documents that Murphy provided to the USPS.

Murphy faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for bribing a public official in order to influence the official’s performance of his lawful duties. U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel has scheduled sentencing for June 13, 2016.

On November 15, 2015, Gregory Cooper, age 60, of Glenn Dale, Maryland, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for receiving bribes in connection with the awarding of mail delivery contracts. Judge Hazel also entered an order that Cooper forfeit $25,931.76.

Source: http://www.justice.gov/usao-md/pr/private-contractor-pleads-guilty-bribing-former-us-postal-service-contracting-official

August 14, 2015 By AMK

Postal Service purchase card program needs better oversight, new audit finds

A new U.S. Postal Service audit found inadequate oversight in regards to the use of expense purchase cards despite policies and procedures in place.

The USPS inspector general (IG) said in an Aug. 7, 2015 report that, of the 209 transactions – worth $72,333 – it reviewed, 133 were missing the required documentation. And, of those missing, 51 were made without proper approval.

Additionally, cardholders for 42 percent of the transactions and approving officials for 41 percent either did not take the required expense purchase card training or could not provide proof of completion, the IG said.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.fiercegovernment.com/story/postal-service-purchase-card-program-needs-better-oversight-new-audit-finds/2015-08-12

June 25, 2015 By AMK

No more charging strippers to Uncle Sam’s plastic

Federal employees who want to gamble or frequent strip clubs for an evening of fun will have to use their own credit cards to pay for it.

An amendment included in the House-passed fiscal 2016 Defense spending bill prohibits Defense civilian workers and military personnel from using government charge cards for expenses related to “gaming, or for entertainment that includes topless or nude entertainers or participants.”

The language specifically prohibits gaming, rather than any expenses at a casino, so lodging and meals, for example, would be exempt.

Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., sponsored the amendment, which was adopted on voice vote. The House on Thursday passed the fiscal 2016 Defense spending bill. The full Senate has not yet considered its fiscal 2016 Defense appropriations legislation.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.govexec.com/management/2015/06/no-more-charging-strippers-uncle-sams-plastic/115174

June 18, 2015 By AMK

IG: USPS doesn’t know if it saved money renegotiating contracts

The Postal Service renegotiated contracts with its largest suppliers as a way to save money, but never tracked the results of the initiative to see if it actually saved anything, says a June 4 USPS inspector general report.

In fiscal 2009, USPS began an effort to renegotiate contracts with over 218 of its largest suppliers.

The Rapid Renegotiation Initiative, or RRI, identified cost savings the Postal Service could pursue in those contracts to improve its financial position.

Through the RRI, the supply management workers at USPS negotiated with the suppliers to reduce what it paid for goods and services and to limit the scope of the contract work.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.fiercegovernment.com/story/ig-usps-doesnt-know-if-saved-money-renegotiating-contracts/2015-06-10

It’s easy to forget that roughly a year ago, Equifax was hacked, which compromised the personal information of roughly 145.5 million individuals.

Barbara Murphy of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, pleaded guilty on Feb. 10, 2016 to bribing a former contracting officer with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) in exchange for favorable treatment in connection with the awarding of contracts to deliver the mail.

A new U.S. Postal Service audit found inadequate oversight in regards to the use of expense purchase cards despite policies and procedures in place.

Federal employees who want to gamble or frequent strip clubs for an evening of fun will have to use their own credit cards to pay for it.

The Postal Service renegotiated contracts with its largest suppliers as a way to save money, but never tracked the results of the initiative to see if it actually saved anything, says a June 4 USPS inspector general report.

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