Semiannual 

Report to 

Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014

Message from the 

Inspector General

Summary of Performance
A Message from the 

Inspector General

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) – with the support of the Governors, Congress, 

and U.S. Postal Service management – plays a key role in maintaining the integrity 

and accountability of America’s Postal Service, its revenue and assets, and its 

employees through our audit and investigative work. 

OIG efforts have resulted in significant savings opportunities and improved 

efficiencies. During this 6-month report period ending March 31, 2014, we issued 

94 audit reports, management advisories, PARIS risk models, and Risk Analysis 

Research Center and Office of Audit white papers. The Postal Service accepted 95 percent of 

our significant recommendations. In addition, we completed 1,698 investigations that led to 323 

arrests and nearly $122 million in fines, restitutions, and recoveries, of which $15 million went to 

the Postal Service. 

The Semiannual Report to Congress is a reflection of the OIG’s goals of transparency and 

accountability. This reporting period we have transitioned to a new dynamic report format, 

which we believe heightens transparency and accountability to our stakeholders. With illustrative 

graphics and hyperlinks to the full reports for the period, stakeholders can drill down as deeply 

as they want. The report also links to appendices, which provide detailed information on audit 

reports and their associated recommendations, investigative cases pursued in the period, and 

monetary impacts of our work.

I look forward to working with the Governors, Congress, and Postal Service management as we 

address the challenges ahead. 

David C. Williams

Inspector General

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 1
Summary of 

Performance

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014

Mission Statement

The mission of the U.S. Postal Service 

Office of Inspector General is to 

conduct and supervise objective and 

independent audits, reviews, and 

investigations relating to Postal Service 

programs and operations to:

n Prevent and detect fraud, theft, and 

misconduct;

n Promote economy, efficiency, and 

effectiveness;

n Promote program integrity; and

Keep the Governors, Congress, and 

Postal Service management informed 

of problems, deficiencies, and 

corresponding corrective actions.

Administrative Actions

Convictions/pretrial diversions2

Indictments/Informations

Arrests

Investigations Completed

85

80

Signicant 

recommendations 

issued

Reports issued

Total

reports 

with 

nancial 

impact

17

OIG HOTLINE CONTACTS

* INVESTIGATIONS1 *

Cost Avoidance $245,518,951

Fines, Restitutions, and Recoveries $121,936,800

1698

323

225 366

1,088

SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE

October 1, 2013 – March 31, 2014

 Funds put to better use: $98,878,630

 Questioned Costs: $33,075,002

 Revenue Impact: $53,992,397

Total = $185,946,029

AUDITS

Facsimile - Fax

National Law Enforcement

Communication Center

Telephone Calls

Electronic Mail (E-mail)

Standard Mail

Voice Mail Messages

1 Statistics include joint investigations with other law enforcements agencies. 

2 Convictions reported in this period may be related to arrests in prior reporting periods. 

3 Amounts include case results of joint investigations with other OIG, federal, state, and local law

enforcement entities.

$

15,257,345

@

Amount to the

Postal Service3

33,851

22,590

817

597

300

368

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 2
Table of Contents Cover

A Message from the Inspector General..................................................................................1

Summary of Performance.....................................................................................................2

Table of Contents.................................................................................................................3

Office of Audit......................................................................................................................4

Revenue and Performance ...............................................................................................4

Opportunities Exist for Better Stamp Stock Management................................................4

Formal Knowledge Management Strategy Needed .........................................................4

Mission Operations..........................................................................................................5

Better Address Management Could Improve Business Customer Retention......................5

Challenges Abound in Preparing for Package Growth .....................................................5

Readiness for Package Growth — Delivery Operations .............................................5

Readiness for Package Growth — Customer Service Operations ...............................6

Readiness for Package Growth — Processing Capacity ...........................................6

Support Operations..........................................................................................................6

Delayed Facilities Maintenance Could Increase Costs.....................................................6

Financial and Systems Accountability................................................................................7

Correct Reporting Key to Accurate Retirement Liability Estimates....................................7

Security Requirements Needed for IT Storage Environments ......................................7

Continuous Monitoring Would Reduce Improper Payments .............................................8

Risk Analysis Research Center..............................................................................................8

Providing Non-Bank Financial Services for the Underserved ...........................................8

What America Wants and Needs from the Postal Service................................................9

Enriching Postal Information: Applications for Tomorrow’s Technologies...........................9

Office of Investigations.......................................................................................................10

Mail Theft .....................................................................................................................10

Financial Fraud..............................................................................................................10

Healthcare Fraud ...........................................................................................................11

Contract Fraud/Major Fraud Investigations Division ..........................................................12

Whistleblower Reprisal Activity........................................................................................12

Appendices .......................................................................................................................13

Appendix A....................................................................................................................14

Reports Issued to Postal Service Management.............................................................14

Reports with Quantifiable Potential 

Monetary Benefits......................................................................................................15

Report Listing............................................................................................................16

PARIS Risk Models.....................................................................................................17

Appendix B....................................................................................................................18

Findings of Questioned Costs.....................................................................................18

Appendix C ...................................................................................................................19

Recommendations That Funds Be Put to Better Use.....................................................19

Appendix D ...................................................................................................................20

Other Impacts............................................................................................................20

Appendix E ...................................................................................................................21

Reports with Significant Recommendations Pending Corrective Actions ........................21

Appendix F ...................................................................................................................34

Significant Management Decisions in 

Audit Resolution .......................................................................................................34

Appendix G....................................................................................................................34

Status of Peer Review Recommendations....................................................................34

Appendix H....................................................................................................................35

Investigative Statistics................................................................................................35

Appendix I.....................................................................................................................36

Summary of U.S. Postal Inspection Service Actions Under 39 USC § 3005 and 3007.....36

Appendix J ....................................................................................................................37

All Closed Congressional/ PMG/BOG Inquires..............................................................37

Inspector General Investigations .................................................................................37

Inspector General Audit Reports..................................................................................41

Risk Analysis Research Center Reports .......................................................................41

General Council and Support Functions.......................................................................41

Referrals...................................................................................................................41

Supplemental Information...................................................................................................42

Freedom of Information Act ........................................................................................42

Acronym Guide ..................................................................................................................43

Who Do I Call — Report Fraud Waste and Abuse.................................................................44

Contact Information............................................................................................................45

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 3
Office of Audit

Significant Audit Work

For the period October 1, 2013, through March 31, 2014 The Office of Audit (OA) conducts and supervises objective and independent audits and reviews of Postal Service programs and operations. It also assesses 

compliance with laws and regulations, and evaluates internal controls. OA keeps Congress, the Postal Service Board of Governors, and management informed of 

problems, deficiencies, and corresponding corrective actions. Generally, audit resources are aligned with those of the Postal Service vice presidents and major 

functional areas, allowing the OA to focus efforts where there is the greatest potential risk to Postal Service management and operations.

Revenue and Performance

Opportunities Exist for Better Stamp Stock Management

Stamp Stock Ordering and Fulfillment

Every day the Postal Service processes about 14,500 postage stamp orders from retail units, collectors, and business 

and residential customers. We found the Postal Service needs to significantly improve internal stamp ordering and 

fulfillment processes to effectively manage stamp stock. Specifically, stamp stock shortages and delays occurred with 

the rollout of the new Solution for Enterprise Asset Management system because it was deployed during the 2012 

holiday season, prior to a rate change, and when 4,000 retiring postmasters were being replaced. Also, the system 

was not adequately tested prior to deployment to account for the large number of requests, and management did not 

communicate changes to personnel responsible for fulfilling stamp stock. We identified $120 million at risk because the 

recording of stock transactions was delayed.

We recommended management improve scanning compatibility and conduct proper testing, develop a policy for timely 

posting of transaction data, send status alerts to requesters, and communicate process changes with stamp distribution 

centers and retail units. 

Formal Knowledge Management Strategy Needed

Postal Service Knowledge Management Process

The Postal Service is getting leaner. But as it trims its workforce it is also losing some of its most valuable resources: 

long-term employees with extensive knowledge vital to running a vast organization. We found the Postal Service has 

informal knowledge management elements in some of its programs, but we recommended it develop an organized 

strategy to preserve and disseminate explicit and tacit knowledge. Knowledge management is an intentional and holistic 

process of capturing knowledge within an organization. We looked at how eight public and private organizations, including 

the General Services Administration and Walmart, manage knowledge, and we identified some best practices the 

Postal Service should consider. These include: conducting exit interviews aimed at gleaning key information; designating 

a knowledge management officer; developing knowledge maps that track the organization’s pockets of expertise; 

conducting mentor-based training; and sharing knowledge through Communities of Practice as well as blogs and 

other social media tools. The Postal Service disagreed with our findings and recommendations, stating that a separate 

knowledge management program would not be cost-effective. Management also described their knowledge management 

strategy as a continuous improvement program incorporating best practices, internal knowledge sharing, and leadership 

and development programs.

Management Response 

to Audit Work

The Office of Audit (OA) adheres to 

professional audit standards and 

generally presents its audit work to 

management for comments prior to 

issuing a final report. Unless otherwise 

noted in the selected audit work 

discussed in this report, management 

has agreed or partially agreed with 

our recommendations and is taking or 

has already taken corrective action to 

address the issues raised.

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 4
Office of Audit Mission Operations

Mission Operations

Better Address Management Could Improve Business Customer Retention

Address Management System Data

The Postal Service has reduced its emphasis on address accuracy, cutting the number of Address Management System 

(AMS) specialists by nearly 40 percent and then reclassifying the specialist position. Carriers also help maintain address 

quality by observing address changes on their routes and noting them in their edit books. Our audit found carriers did not 

consistently record address changes in their edit books during street delivery, and supervisors did not regularly review 

carriers’ work. As a result, address corrections worth about $14 million were not made in the AMS in FYs 2012 and 

2013. Address errors increased from more than 267,000 in FY 2011 to almost 440,000 in FY 2013. Incorrect addresses 

are costly for business mailers because they create mailings for these invalid addresses and then must process the 

associated returned mail. Address errors also erode mailers’ confidence in the effectiveness of mail. Further, correct 

address data could reduce the $1.3 billion the Postal Service spent last year processing undeliverable-as-addressed mail.

We recommended the Postal Service set specific deadlines for carriers to update edit books and submit them to 

supervisors. We also recommended deadlines be set for submission of error corrections to the AMS and that carriers 

and supervisors receive formal AMS training. These steps could save $16 million in FYs 2014 and 2015 and strengthen 

business mailers’ confidence in the Postal Service. Management disagreed with one of our assertions but agreed in 

principle with our recommendations and the monetary impact.

Challenges Abound in Preparing for Package Growth

Is the Postal Service prepared to meet the challenges of increased package volume brought on by the explosion in 

e-commerce? That’s the question behind our series of reports on the Postal Service’s processing, delivery, and 

customer service operations. U.S. online retail sales are expected to grow to nearly $279 billion by 2015. In its 

2012 Five-Year Business Plan, the Postal Service projected its volume of 3.5 billion packages in FY 2012 will 

grow by 5 to 6 percent per year through 2017. Customers expect free and fast shipping and increased tracking and 

visibility capabilities. The booming package sector offers the Postal Service an opportunity to counter the decline in 

First-Class Mail volume and leveling off of Standard Mail volume. Its Delivering Results, Innovation, Value, and Efficiency 

initiative aims to establish a package processing and delivery network that supports projected package growth. We 

discovered the Postal Service has successfully managed many aspects of increased package activity but should make 

changes in delivery, customer service, and processing operations to fully meet customers’ needs and stay competitive in 

this growing market. 

Readiness for Package Growth — Delivery Operations 

The Postal Service’s Delivery Operations organization has successfully managed package growth and the fluctuations 

in package volume by keeping workhours in line with volume. However, opportunities still exist to improve readiness by 

implementing dynamic routing to make delivery more efficient and modifying package compartments on cluster box 

units to accommodate additional parcels. Retaining more city carrier assistants, establishing a shelving system in postal 

vehicles, and using carrier pick-up data to manage operations will further bolster package readiness.

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 5
Office of Audit Mission Operations and Support Operations

Readiness for Package Growth — Customer Service Operations

Customer Service Operations has successfully managed package volume growth, employee workhours, and scan rates at 

delivery units. Clerks consistently scanned more than 98 percent of trackable mailpieces before carriers delivered them. 

However, acceptance scans of barcoded packages from customer drop points, such as street collection boxes 

and Post Office lobby boxes, were below the 98 percent target. Also, 58 percent of the customers we observed during 

the holiday period waited in line at retail units for more than 5 minutes to mail packages or flat items. We recommended 

the Postal Service increase barcode scanning and reduce customer wait times. We also urged it to enable the feature in 

its Passive Adaptive Scanning System that identifies packages with potential short paid or unpaid postage and increase 

the number of barcoded packages to provide the end-to-end tracking customers expect. Management disagreed with 

the operational and judgmental assumptions we made for improving Postal Service competitiveness, but they agreed 

with the recommendations.

Readiness for Package Growth — Processing Capacity 

The Postal Service has more than enough machine capacity to process all non-peak period package volume. It can 

process an average of about 29 million packages daily, which is more than sufficient to process the 24 million packages 

it receives. During the December peak holiday mailing season, the Postal Service augments its machine capacity with 

manual processing. It does this to accommodate the increased holiday volume without adding excess machine capacity 

and its associated costs for the other 11 months of the year. But as package volume grows, the Postal Service should 

improve machine throughput by properly staffing machines and adjusting the mail arrival schedule to ensure mail is 

available for processing when the machines’ operating window begins. 

Support Operations

Delayed Facilities Maintenance Could Increase Costs

Spending Trends for Maintaining Postal Service Facilities

A $382 million budget decrease for facility repairs from FY 2009 to FY 2012 has affected the Postal Service’s ability 

to address all repairs, alterations, and capital improvements at the more than 32,000 facilities it manages. Management 

initiated a capital spending freeze in 2009 to conserve cash and it has continued to present. In FY 2012, the 

Postal Service spent $266 million (29 percent) below the industry average on facility repairs for the 280 million square 

feet of space it manages — spending $2.69 per square foot versus an industry average of $3.81 per square foot. Due 

to these budget constraints, the Postal Service Facilities group did not complete 19,033 repairs (18 percent) estimated to 

cost $271 million during FYs 2011 and 2012. Fifty percent of these incomplete repairs represented safety and security 

issues, or likely will require future major repairs. Future costs for these unfunded repairs could reach $1.4 billion, while 

16 percent of them represented potential Occupational Safety and Health Administration violations and potential fines 

estimated at $2.9 million. 

We found the Facilities organization could improve the way it prioritizes repairs. Its failure to document procedures led to 

critical repairs being identified as low priority and repair priority lists becoming outdated. Also, the Postal Service did not 

develop a strategy to complete all repairs and did not focus funds to address critical repairs. By not accurately prioritizing 

and completing repairs, the Postal Service increased its safety and financial risks. 

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 6
Office of Audit Financial and Systems Accountability

Financial and Systems Accountability

Correct Reporting Key to Accurate Retirement Liability Estimates

Fiscal Year 2013 Postal Service Financial Statements Audit – Eagan Accounting Services

The Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) is a pension program administered by the Office of Personnel 

Management (OPM) and offered to eligible Postal Service employees, with a contribution rate based on a percentage of 

an employee’s salary. Effective January 1, 2013, OPM classified newly hired employees as Federal Employees Retirement 

System-Revised Annuity Employees (FERS-RAE) and increased the FERS-RAE employee contribution rates for regular 

and law enforcement employees, while the Postal Service’s contribution rate decreased. Our annual audit of the Postal 

Service Eagan Accounting Services found that because it lacked OPM guidance, the Postal Service misreported more 

than $455,000 in retirement contributions for newly hired law enforcement personnel by combining FERS-RAE and 

FERS regular contributions. This would have led to misreporting of about $7.5 million annually had the Postal Service 

continued to combine FERS-RAE law enforcement and FERS regular contributions. Accurate retirement contribution 

reporting is key to accurate retirement liability estimates. Management corrected the reporting error after meeting with 

the OIG in September 2013, and retroactively adjusted all FERS-RAE law enforcement contributions so we made no 

recommendations. Management disagreed with the assessment and valuation of the finding of a data integrity impact 

of $7.5 million annually.

The Eagan Accounting Service audit is one of 10 annual audits the OIG conducts regarding the financial statement and 

internal controls over financial reporting. 

Security Requirements Needed for IT Storage Environments

Information Storage Security

Our audit assessed the security of the non-mainframe information storage environment managed by the Postal Service’s 

Information Technology, Computer Operations, Data Management Services group. We found the audited storage 

environment is vulnerable to compromises, which could lead to data loss, system outages, or data corruption.

The Postal Service spends about $30 million annually on capitalized storage components that support 230 systems 

containing various categories of data, such as personal employee information, which have different protection 

requirements based on their level of sensitivity. A system outage in 2010 revealed the storage environment was not 

subject to security reviews or audits, including no periodic administrator access reviews. Also, the Corporate Information 

Security Office (CISO) did not provide adequate guidance for securing storage-based information resources, such as 

systems, hardware, software, data, applications, 

and telecommunications networks. 

To improve security of information storage, we recommended management establish operating procedures and security 

requirements, better oversee storage environments, set a schedule for complying with these new standards, and ensure 

personnel maintain their storage skills. We also recommended that CISO establish security requirements for storage 

environments. 

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 7
Continuous Monitoring Would Reduce Improper Payments

Processes and Procedures over Improper Payments

The Postal Service should use data mining and a continuous monitoring program to better monitor improper payments for 

goods or services and to collect court-ordered payments owed to it. Our audit identified about $203 million in improper 

payments made by the Postal Service in fiscal years (FYs) 2012 and 2011 and found management lacks a process to 

fully monitor and pursue restitution and recovery of nearly $9 million settled by federal courts. Improper payments are 

defined by the Improper Payments Information Act of 2002 as 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. They 

can occur due to inadequate recordkeeping, inaccurate program eligibility determinations, inadvertent processing errors, 

untimely and unreliable information to confirm payment accuracy, or fraud. Improper payments do not always represent 

an actual loss. 

Risk Analysis Research Center

For the reporting period of October 1, 2013 through March 31, 2014

The Risk Analysis Research Center conducts in-depth research and analysis on postal issues to identify opportunities for revenue growth and increased 

operational efficiencies.

Providing Non-Bank Financial Services for the Underserved

More than a quarter of American households exist at least partially outside the financial mainstream — lacking access 

to basic banking or relying on costly alternatives like check-cashing or payday loans. These households spent $89 billion 

in 2012 just on fees and interest, representing an average of almost 10 percent of their income. A January white paper, 

Providing Non-Bank Financial Services for the Underserved, explored how the Postal Service could offer a suite of nonbank financial services that could help the underserved gain more financial stability and better participate in the digital 

economy. Non-bank financial services could also provide new revenue for the Postal Service. 

The Postal Service already provides non-bank financial services like money orders and international money transfers. 

Through an expanded set of services — such as reloadable prepaid cards, expanded money transfers, and bill payment 

— the Postal Service could help underserved Americans save billions of dollars every year in interest and fees, shore up 

the strength of its existing retail network, and possibly partner with banks and other organizations to help them connect 

with millions of new customers. While banks are closing branches all over the country, mostly in low-income areas such 

as rural communities and inner cities, the Postal Service’s physical network remains ubiquitous. Many international 

posts are already offering financial services that both improve their profitability and aid the cause of supporting financial 

inclusion in their countries.

Office of Audit/ Financial and Systems Accountability

Risk Analysis Research Center

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 8
Office of Audit

What America Wants and Needs from the Postal Service

The OIG conducted a series of focus groups across the nation to determine what kinds of services Americans expect 

from the Postal Service. This research served as a follow-up to our earlier white paper that summarized the results of 

a national web-based survey aimed at better understanding how Americans view the Postal Service and its role in the 

future. The results from the focus groups, which included rural, urban, and suburban customers, were detailed in a paper, 

What America Wants and Needs from the Postal Service. The goal of the research was to gain a better perspective on 

what Americans, either with or without Internet access, absolutely need, and what compromises they were willing to 

accept to ensure a viable Postal Service. Interestingly, and perhaps not surprisingly, geography was a significant factor. 

For instance, rural participants viewed post offices as community centers, while urban participants saw them as a 

convenience, and those perceptions underpinned expectations of what kinds of services should be available. 

Enriching Postal Information: Applications for Tomorrow’s Technologies

Information about physical mail, particularly customer-centric information, is now as important as the mailpiece itself. 

To understand how the Postal Service might better adapt to increasing market demands for information, the OIG 

considered a variety of information-gathering technologies that might benefit the postal industry. Our paper, 

Enriching Postal Information: Applications for Tomorrow’s Technologies, lists more than 50 potential applications that are 

relevant to the postal industry, including those that could enhance sales, transportation, delivery, and customer service, 

as well as support public safety and internal postal security. The paper highlights mobile post offices as well as citizengovernment services and increasing the public’s ease-of-access to both.

Postal management also needs more information to prevent service failures, align staffing and equipment to workload, 

increase workplace safety, and decrease mail theft. New public services could also be developed. For example, enriched 

postal information could support applications for identity verification and real-time mapping and traffic monitoring. With 

the proper strategic approach, the Postal Service could reposition itself as an “information business.”

Risk Analysis Research Center

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 9
Office of 

Investigations

The Postal Service is consistently ranked by the Ponemon Institute as America’s “most trusted federal agency.” Among the reasons for this ranking is the integrity 

of its employees. However, a few postal employees and contractors betray that trust and abuse the public’s confidence in the Postal Service. When that happens, 

the OIG’s Office of Investigations (OI) gets involved.

To protect the mail and to ensure the integrity of postal processes, finances, and personnel, the Postal Service relies on the investigative efforts of OI special agents, 

who are stationed in offices nationwide. Their charge is to investigate internal crimes and frauds committed by postal employees and contractors against the 

Postal Service and employee misconduct. In this section, we highlight work conducted by the OI during this reporting period that contributed to safeguarding the 

Postal Service’s revenue and assets and helped deter postal crimes, ultimately helping to maintain a stable and sound Postal Service.

Mail Theft 

The majority of Postal Service employees work conscientiously to move the nation’s mail to its proper destination. A few employees abuse the public’s trust. Special agents investigate 

allegations of postal employees delaying, destroying, or stealing mail. Investigations of suspected employees are referred to prosecutors or to management for administrative action.

 An OIG investigation determined that a motor vehicle service driver stole several mail parcels containing high-value jewelry. Agents executed a search warrant at the driver’s residence 

and found two stolen watches and $8,000 in cash. The investigation also revealed the driver deposited more than $42,000 in a personal bank account. During an interview with 

agents, the driver admitted to pawning the stolen jewelry for cash to support a gambling addiction. In March 2012, the driver resigned from the Postal Service. In February 2014, the 

former employee was sentenced in federal court to 30 months in prison, 3 years supervised probation, and ordered to pay $402,000 in restitution to the victim.

 A rural carrier pled guilty in federal court in January 2014 to delay or destruction of mail and was sentenced to 2 years supervised release and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine. During 

the investigation, OIG agents received information that undelivered mail was located on the rural carrier’s property. During a search, OIG agents recovered more than 900 pieces of 

First-Class Mail, and large amounts of Standard Mail and Periodicals from the rural carrier’s residence, personal vehicle, and from other properties owned by the carrier’s family. In 

January 2013, the rural carrier resigned from the Postal Service. 

Financial Fraud

A large portion of the $66 billion in revenue generated by the Postal Service is handled at the 32,000 postal retail locations. Our agents investigate employees who embezzle funds, 

misuse money orders, or steal and misuse postal-issued credit cards.

 An OIG investigation determined a Kentucky postmaster was manipulating postal money order transactions and embezzling Postal Service funds. During the interview, the postmaster 

admitted to accepting cash from customers for money order purchases and not entering the sale into the postal accountable system used to track sales and inventory. The scheme 

allowed the postmaster to enter the sales at a later date, when the deficits could be covered with additional sales. The postmaster confessed to stealing the cash over a 4-month 

period to support an addiction to prescription pain medication. The investigation resulted in the removal of the postmaster from the Postal Service. In November 2013, the former 

employee was sentenced in federal court to 6 months in prison, 3 years’ probation, and 60 days in a halfway house. The former postmaster was ordered to pay over $8,000 in 

restitution to the Postal Service. 

 A New York customer service supervisor pled guilty in federal court to passing counterfeit money, theft or embezzlement of U.S. property/money, and misappropriation of 

Postal Service funds. The supervisor was sentenced to 6 months in prison, 42 months’ probation, 6 months of home confinement, and ordered to pay $84,000 in restitution to the 

Postal Service. The OIG received information from officials at the Postal Service that a supervisor removed U.S. currency from the daily bank deposits and replaced the currency with 

counterfeit bills. During an interview with agents, the supervisor admitted to her involvement in the scheme. The Postal Service terminated the supervisor in March 2013.

Kentucky postmaster admitted to accepting cash from customers for money 

order purchases.

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 10
Office of Investigations Healthcare Fraud

Healthcare Fraud

Employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses receive compensation and medical benefits in accordance with the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA), which is 

administered by the Department of Labor/Office of Workers’ Compensation (DOL/OWCP). The benefits paid by the Postal Service to workers’ compensation claimants in FY 2013 

totaled $1.37 billion. The Postal Service estimated total liability for future workers’ compensation costs was $17.2 billion, as of September 30, 2013. 

 A former letter carrier committed federal workers’ compensation fraud by providing false statements to DOL/OWCP to receive benefits. After an OIG investigation, the carrier was 

arrested and charged with false statement or fraud to obtain federal employees’ compensation benefits. The investigation revealed that the carrier failed to report outside income and 

employment and exceeded her medical restrictions while receiving OWCP benefits. The carrier was observed working as an assistant to her husband, a licensed master plumber, as 

well as lifting heavy equipment, and playing golf. The carrier was sentenced in federal court to probation for 36 months, home confinement for 90 days, and ordered to pay about 

$31,000 in restitution. As part of a plea agreement, the carrier resigned from the Postal Service and agreed not to seek future federal employment. The termination of her workers’ 

compensation benefits resulted in a cost avoidance to the Postal Service of more than $1.3 million. 

 An Oregon letter carrier was sentenced in January in federal court to 5 years’ supervised probation and approximately $31,000 in restitution to the Postal Service after pleading guilty 

to committing fraud to obtain federal employees’ workers’ compensation benefits. Our investigation found that the carrier owned and operated a childcare business and a separate 

maid cleaning service while receiving workers’ compensation benefits from DOL. Surveillance of the carrier showed children being dropped off and picked up at her residence. 

The carrier received payments from daycare recipients and business-related compensation benefits from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the state of Oregon. The carrier’s 

medical restrictions included no lifting, climbing, grasping, fine manipulation, reaching above shoulder, and no driving. The carrier was also observed driving on numerous occasions. 

Our investigation found the carrier enrolled in a U.S. Agriculture Department-sponsored food program, on behalf of her childcare business. The state provided the carrier benefit 

payments of $3,500 in 2010. Still, she reported no outside income or employment to DOL/OWCP and continued receiving workers’ compensation benefits. Our investigation also 

determined the carrier, as a registered childcare provider in Oregon, received monthly payments from the state for providing child care to state Department of Health Services’ benefit 

recipients. Because of our investigation, the carrier was terminated in October 2012. This resulted in a cost avoidance to the Postal Service of roughly $995,000.

 The OIG conducted a multi-agency investigation with the California Department of Insurance, the DOL OIG, and the Los Angeles County In-Home Support Services (LA-IHSS) and 

discovered that a California mail clerk failed to report income earned from a state benefit program while receiving OWCP benefits. The clerk earned income from LA-IHSS as a 

care provider from August 2009 through January 2010, but failed to disclose this income to DOL. LA-IHSS is a program to assist California residents who are elderly, disabled, 

medically or mentally ill. The investigation also revealed the clerk failed to report secondary income received while selling novelty items as a street vendor at several event locations. 

In December 2013, the clerk pleaded guilty to one count of insurance fraud and was sentenced in state court to 5 years of probation, 30 days of community service, 1 day in jail, 

a $280 fine, and ordered to pay roughly $50,000 in restitution to the Postal Service. In January 2013, the clerk retired while under investigation resulting in cost avoidance to the 

Postal Service of about $333,600.

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 11
Office of Investigations Contract Fraud/Major Fraud Investigations Division and Whistleblower Reprisal Activity

Contract Fraud/Major Fraud Investigations Division

The Postal Service manages contracts ranging from multimillion dollar national contracts for services, such as transportation networks and IT infrastructures, to local contracts for 

supplies and services at individual postal facilities. The OIG aids the Postal Service by investigating allegations of contract fraud, waste, and misconduct. When our investigations 

document contract improprieties, special agents present the evidence for criminal and civil prosecution and administrative remedies. During this reporting period, our 96 contract fraud 

investigations resulted in nine arrests, seven convictions, and more than $75 million in monetary benefits to the Postal Service.

The Major Fraud Investigations Division (MFID) investigates all allegations of fraud within the Postal Service’s programs and operations with a contract award price (individual or 

aggregate) of $500,000 or more, as well as allegations that are or become national or multi-jurisdictional in nature, regardless of the contract award price.

 A uniform vending scheme involving three separate vendors came to an end after an OIG investigation and resulted in fines of over $325,000 paid to the Postal Service. 

In August 2010, we learned that Ace Uniforms, Inc. (Ace), a San Diego, CA, contractor, had purchase orders, packing slips, and credit card receipts that revealed violations of the 

terms of the contract to sell Postal Service uniform items. This led to Ace losing its license to sell Postal Service uniforms and a revocation of its contract. We found the owner 

later entered into an agreement with California Uniforms, Inc., a Los Angeles contractor. California Uniforms agreed to process Ace’s uniform sales for a 10 percent kickback. This 

practice continued until California Uniforms lost its license to sell Postal Service uniform items for violations similar to those of Ace. Even after California Uniforms lost its licenses, 

we confirmed both Ace and California Uniforms continued to sell the uniforms. A search warrant was executed at California Uniforms’ sites in San Diego and Los Angeles and at 

Ace’s sites in San Diego and Phoenix, AZ. Agents seized bank records, facsimiles, notes, logs, and approximately $600,000 in Postal Service uniforms. Records seized from 

California Uniforms disclosed another kickback with a third uniform contractor in Hollywood, CA, identified as Merchandise Center, Inc. (Merchandise). The Postal Service revoked 

Merchandise’s contract as well. The three California uniform vending contractors were sentenced in U.S. District Court for conspiracy to accept kickbacks on a government contract 

and were ordered to pay $325,043 in fines and restitution payable to the Postal Service.

 After pleading guilty to mail fraud, a psychologist in California was sentenced in February to 5 years of probation and 12 months of home confinement with electronic monitoring 

and was ordered to pay $173,000 in restitution to the Postal Service. The OIG investigation revealed that the psychologist billed multiple federal health benefit plans for services not 

rendered. Specifically, the psychologist submitted billings to government healthcare programs for services to more than 40 Postal Service employees for dates in which treatment was 

not actually provided.

 An OIG investigation determined a New York contractor failed to pay his employees prevailing wages on a Postal Service contract. The contractor pled guilty to one count of mail 

fraud, wire fraud, and failure to collect and pay overdue taxes. The investigation also resulted in the contractor and related entities being debarred from government projects for 3 

years. In December 2013, the contractor was sentenced to 90 days incarceration followed by 6 months home confinement, 2 years’ probation, and ordered to pay an additional 

restitution of more than $224,000 on top of $1 million in restitution previously paid.

Whistleblower Reprisal Activity

The Whistleblower Protection Act does not apply to the 

Postal Service. However, the Postal Service has its own 

policy governing whistleblower retaliation. The policy 

prohibits retaliation against employees who have disclosed 

information they reasonably believe to be: 1) a violation of 

any rule, law or regulation, or 2) a gross waste of funds, 

gross mismanagement, abuse of authority, or a substantial 

and specific danger to public health or safety.

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 12
Appendices

The Inspector General (IG) Act of 1978 requires semiannual reports on the immediately preceding 6-month periods ending 

September 30 and March 31. These reports are sent to Congress and made available to the public.

This report summarizes OIG activities and illustrates significant problems, abuses, and deficiencies, along with recommendations and corrective actions related to 

the administration of U.S. Postal Service programs and operations during the reporting period.

The appendices on the following pages fulfill the requirements of the Act.

Appendix A....................................................................................................................14

Reports Issued to Postal Service Management.............................................................14

Summary..................................................................................................................14

Definitions:................................................................................................................14

Reports with Quantifiable Potential Monetary Benefits..................................................15

Report Listing............................................................................................................16

PARIS Risk Models.....................................................................................................17

Appendix B....................................................................................................................18

Findings of Questioned Costs.....................................................................................18

Appendix C ...................................................................................................................19

Recommendations That Funds Be Put to Better Use.....................................................19

Appendix D ...................................................................................................................20

Other Impacts............................................................................................................20

Appendix E ...................................................................................................................21

Reports with Significant Recommendations Pending Corrective Actions ........................21

Appendix F ...................................................................................................................34

Significant Management Decisions in Audit Resolution ................................................34

Appendix G....................................................................................................................34

Status of Peer Review Recommendations....................................................................34

Office of Audit ...........................................................................................................34

Office of Investigations...............................................................................................34

Appendix H....................................................................................................................35

Investigative Statistics* ..............................................................................................35

Appendix I.....................................................................................................................36

Summary of U.S. Postal Inspection Service Actions Under 39 USC § 3005 and 3007.....36

Administrative Subpoenas Requested by the Postal Inspection Service..........................36

Appendix J ....................................................................................................................37

All Closed Congressional/ PMG/BOG Inquires..............................................................37

Inspector General Investigations (53)...........................................................................37

Inspector General Audit Reports (5).............................................................................42

Risk Analysis Research Center Reports (2)...................................................................42

General Council and Support Functions (3)..................................................................42

Referrals (3) ..............................................................................................................42

Supplemental Information...............................................................................................43

Freedom of Information Act ........................................................................................43

Activities...................................................................................................................43

Workplace Environment..................................................................................................43

Click on the appendix title 

to the right to navigate to 

the section content.

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 13
Appendices Appendix A

Appendix A

Reports Issued to Postal Service Management

For the period October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014

OIG audit teams conduct performance and financial audits, evaluations, and other reviews to address the business of the Postal Service. Each 

team issues audit reports (AR), management advisory (MA) reports, or management alert (MA) reports in accordance with the identified needs 

of the project.

Risk Categories

Number of 

Reports

Funds Put 

To Better Use Questioned Costs

Unsupported 

Questioned Cost Revenue Impact

Revenue and Performance 10 — — — $38,992,645

Mission Operations 12 $92,248,799 $25,912,322 $14,103,141 $26,700

Support Operations 13 $6,629,831 $5,405,335 $5,405,335 —

Financial and Systems 

Accountability

20 — $1,757,345 — $473,052

SUB-TOTAL 55 $98,878,630 $33,075,002 $19,508,476 $39,492,397

PARIS Risk Model Reports 29 — — — —

Countermeasures and 

Performance Evaluation

1 — — — $14,500,000

TOTAL 85 $ 98,878,630 $ 33,075,002 $ 19,508,476 $ 53,992,397

Summary

Definitions:

Questioned Costs. A cost that is unnecessary, unreasonable, unsupported, or an alleged violation of law, regulation, contract, 

and so forth.

Unsupported Costs. A cost that is not supported by adequate documentation. Unsupported costs are included with the amounts 

shown as Questioned Costs.

Funds Put to Better Use. Funds that could be used more efficiently by implementing recommended actions.

Revenue Impact. Amounts from revenue-generating functions such as retail sales, rent, leases, or fees that were underpaid or not 

realized. In addition, this category includes increased revenue from existing functions and generating revenue from new sources.

PARIS Risk Models. Performance and Results Information System (PARIS) models with data visualization techniques. These models 

identify operational and financial risks, and enable OA staff to conduct reviews of Postal Service functions on a nationwide basis, while 

also identifying areas of emerging risk — fundamentally challenging the way the OIG examines and monitors risk. We present quarterly 

summary results and trend analyses of these risk models to key Postal Service executives and stakeholders.

Appendices

The Inspector General (IG) Act of 1978 requires 

semiannual reports on the immediately preceding 6-month 

periods ending September 30 and March 31.

These reports are sent to Congress and made available to 

the public.

This report summarizes OIG activities and illustrates 

significant problems, abuses, and deficiencies, along 

with recommendations and corrective actions related to 

the administration of U.S. Postal Service programs and 

operations during the reporting period.

The appendices on the following pages fulfill the 

requirements of the Act.

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 14
Appendices Appendix A

Funds Put 

to Better Use Questioned Costs

Unsupported 

Questioned Costs Revenue Impact

REVENUE AND PERFORMANCE

Sales and Marketing

Inbound China ePacket Costing Methodology; MS-AR-14-002; 2/25/2014 — — — $38,992,645

MISSION OPERATIONS

Delivery and Post Office Operations

Address Management System Data; DR-AR-14-003; 2/28/2014 $16,130,760 $14,103,141 $14,103,141 —

City Delivery Efficiency - South Florida District ; DR-AR-14-004; 3/4/2014 $30,587,250 — — —

Rural Delivery Operations - Mail Count and Timekeeping Processes; 

DR-AR-14-001; 12/13/2013

$18,765,396 — — —

Self-Service Kiosks; DR-AR-14-002; 1/22/2014 $24,860,335 — — —

Network Processing and Transportation

Internal Controls and Transportation Associated With the Springfield, MA, 

Mail Transport Equipment Service Center; NO-AR-14-001; 12/20/2013

$1,905,058 $1,904,681 — —

The Removal and Disposal of Capital Property – Atlanta Network Distribution 

Center; NO-MA-14-002; 12/5/2013

— — — $26,700

Voyager Card Program for Highway Contract Routes – Unidentified and 

Unrecovered Fuel Overpayments; NO-MA-14-001; 10/30/2013

— $9,904,500 — —

SUPPORT OPERATIONS

Supply Management and Facilities

Independent Audit of Northrop Grumman Technical Services Enterprise 

Management System Fiscal Year 2006 Incurred Cost Proposal; 

SM-CAR-14-001; 2/20/2014

— $2,839,251 $2,839,251 —

Lease Risk Model Analysis in the Northeast Area; SM-AR-14-001; 10/23/2013 $6,629,831 — — —

Transportation Management Service Provider Shipping Process; 

SM-AR-14-003; 2/24/2014

— $2,566,084 $2,566,084 —

FINANCIAL AND SYSTEMS ACCOUNTABILITY

Finance

Processes and Procedures Over Improper Payments ; FT-AR-14-001; 

10/22/2013

— $1,241,071 — —

Information Technology

Controls Over the Premium Forwarding Service Point of Service Retail System; 

IT-AR-14-002; 12/2/2013

— $516,274 — $473,052

COUNTERMEASURES AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

Data Mining

P.O. Boxes: Move to Competitive Expansion Opportunities; 

CAPE-TB-14-001; 3/5/2014

— — — $14,500,000

TOTAL $98,878,630 $33,075,002 $19,508,476 $53,992,397

Reports with Quantifiable Potential 

Monetary Benefits

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 15
Appendices Appendix A

Report Listing

Complete listing of all OIG reports issued to Postal Service management. 

For the period October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014

REVENUE AND PERFORMANCE

Data Analysis and Performance

Monitoring of Government Travel Card 

Transactions in the Western Area; 

DP-MA-14-001; 12/9/2013

Postal Service Knowledge Management Process; 

DP-AR-14-002; 3/7/2014

U.S. Postal Service’s Delivering Results, Value, 

and Efficiency Initiative 6, Improve Employee 

Availability; DP-AR-14-001; 3/7/2014

Sales and Marketing

Controls over Nonprofit Mailing Authorization; 

MS-MA-14-002; 3/17/2014

Inbound China ePacket Costing Methodology; 

MS-AR-14-002; 2/25/2014

International Terminal Dues; 

MS-WP-14-002; 3/7/2014

Opportunities for the Postal Service - MicroWarehousing and Other Logistics Support 

Services; MS-WP-14-003; 3/13/2014

Relationship Between Business Connect and Post 

Office Performance; MS-MA-14-001; 12/9/2013

Revenue Performance to Plan for Fiscal Years 

2012 and 2013; MS-WP-14-001; 2/27/2014

Stamp Stock Ordering and Fulfillment; 

MS-AR-14-001; 11/8/2013

MISSION OPERATIONS

Delivery and Post Office Operations 

Address Management System Data; 

DR-AR-14-003; 2/28/2014

City Delivery Efficiency - South Florida District; 

DR-AR-14-004; 3/4/2014

Readiness for Package Growth – Delivery 

Operations; DR-MA-14-001; 12/11/2013

Metro Post Same Day Delivery Pilot - San 

Francisco District; DR-MA-14-002; 2/5/2014

Readiness for Package Growth - Customer 

Service Operations; DR-MA-14-003; 3/31/2014

Rural Delivery Operations - Mail Count and 

Timekeeping Processes; 

DR-AR-14-001; 12/13/2013

Self-Service Kiosks; DR-AR-14-002; 1/22/2014

Vehicle Parts Inventory Management-Capping; 

DR-AR-14-005; 3/26/2014

Network Processing and Transportation

Internal Controls and Transportation Associated 

With the Springfield, MA Mail Transport 

Equipment Service Center; 

NO-AR-14-001; 12/20/2013

Readiness for Package Growth – Processing 

Capacity; NO-AR-14-002; 1/21/2014

The Removal and Disposal of Capital Property – 

Atlanta Network Distribution Center; 

NO-MA-14-002; 12/5/2013

Voyager Card Program for Highway Contract 

Routes – Unidentified and Unrecovered Fuel 

Overpayments; NO-MA-14-001; 10/30/2013

SUPPORT OPERATIONS

Human Resources and Support

Mail Isolation Control and Tracking; 

HR-MA-14-002; 12/3/2013

Management of Equipment in Capitol Heights, 

MD; HR-MA-14-001; 11/20/2013

Security Risks in the Capital District; 

HR-MA-14-003; 1/27/2014

Unscheduled Leave Activity in the Los Angeles 

District; HR-MA-14-004; 2/6/2014

Watch Desk Notifications; 

HR-MA-14-005; 2/27/2014

Supply Management and Facilities

Cepheid Biohazard Detection System Royalty 

Refund; SM-MA-14-001; 12/3/2013

Independent Audit of Northrop Grumman 

Technical Services Enterprise Management 

System Fiscal Year 2006 Incurred Cost Proposal; 

SM-CAR-14-001; 2/20/2014

Lease Risk Model Analysis in the Northeast Area; 

SM-AR-14-001; 10/23/2013

Procurement-Related Ethical Violations at 

Vehicle Maintenance Facilities; SM-MA-14-002; 

12/18/2013 

Risks Associated With CB Richard Ellis, Inc. 

Contract; SM-MA-14-003; 2/12/2014

Spending Trends for Maintaining Postal Service 

Facilities; SM-AR-14-002; 11/27/2013

Supply Chain Relationship Management System 

Requirements; SM-MA-14-004; 3/19/2014

Transportation Management Service Provider 

Shipping Process; SM-AR-14-003; 2/24/2014

FINANCIAL AND SYSTEMS 

ACCOUNTABILITY

Finance

Fiscal Year 2013 Field Testing Control and 

Oversight Business Mail Entry Unit/Staged 

Detached Mail Unit Reviews Quarter 4;

FT-MA-14-002; 11/8/2013

Fiscal Year 2013 - Officers’ Travel and 

Representation Expenses.; 

FT-AR-14-008; 3/13/2014

Fiscal Year 2013 Field Testing Control and 

Oversight Business Reply Mail Reviews Quarter 4; 

FT-MA-14-001; 11/8/2013

Fiscal Year 2013 Field Testing Control and 

Oversight Plant Verified Drop Shipment Reviews 

Quarter 4; FT-MA-14-003; 11/8/2013

Fiscal Year 2013 Field Testing Control and 

Oversight, Continuous Detached Mail Unit 

Reviews Quarter 4; FT-MA-14-004; 11/19/2013 

Fiscal Year 2013 Financial Statements Audit - 

Eagan Accounting Services; 

FT-AR-14-006; 2/24/2014

Fiscal Year 2013 Financial Statements Audit - 

St. Louis Accounting Services; 

FT-AR-14-009; 3/20/2014

Fiscal Year 2013 Financial Testing Compliance 

Oversight Reviews; FT-MA-14-005; 1/8/2014

Fiscal Year 2013 Postal Service Financial 

Statements Audit - Washington, D.C. 

Headquarters; FT-AR-14-007; 2/21/2014

Fiscal Year 2013 Opinion on the U.S. Postal 

Service’s Closing Package Financial Statements; 

FT-AR-14-003; 12/16/2013

Fiscal Year 2013 Statistical Test Reviews; 

FT-MA-14-007; 3/7/2014

Fiscal Year 2014 Field Testing Control and 

Oversight Reviews Quarter 1; 

FT-MA-14-006; 3/3/2014

Independent Report on Employee Benefits, 

Withholdings, Contributions, and Supplemental 

Semiannual Headcount Reporting Submitted to 

the Office of Personnel Management; 

FT-AR-14-002; 11/8/2013

Officer Compensation for Calendar Year 2012; 

FT-AR-14-005; 2/4/2014

Postal Service Board of Governors Travel and 

Miscellaneous Expenses for Fiscal Year 2013; 

FT-AR-14-004; 1/30/2014

Processes and Procedures Over Improper 

Payments; FT-AR-14-001; 10/22/2013

Information Technology

Controls Over the Premium Forwarding Service 

Point of Service Retail System; 

IT-AR-14-002; 12/2/2013

Fiscal Year 2013 Information Technology Internal 

Controls; IT-AR-14-003; 3/26/2014 

Information Storage Security; 

IT-AR-14-004; 3/27/2014

South Florida District Vulnerability Assessment; 

IT-AR-14-001; 10/22/2013

COUNTERMEASURES AND PERFORMANCE 

EVALUATIONS

Data Mining

P.O. Boxes: Move to Competitive Expansion 

Opportunities; CAPE-TB-14-001; 3/5/2014

RISK ANALYSIS RESEARCH CENTER WHITE 

PAPERS

100 Years of Parcel Post; 

RARC-WP-14-004; 12/20/2013

Enhancing the Value of Mail for Digital Natives; 

RARC-WP-14-001; 11/18/2013

Enriching Postal Information: Applications for 

Tomorrow’s Technologies; 

RARC-WP-14-006; 1/13/2014

Greenfield Costing Methodology: An 

Opportunity to Deliver Transformative Change; 

RARC-WP-14-005; 1/7/2014

Locality Pay; RARC-WP-14-008; 2/7/2014

Providing Non-Bank Financial Services for the 

Underserved; RARC-WP-14-007; 1/27/2014

Strengthening Advertising Mail by Building a 

Digital Information Market; 

RARC-WP-14-002; 12/11/2013

Towards A Postal Service Intellectual Property 

Strategy; RARC-WP-14-003; 12/18/2013

What America Wants and Needs from the Postal 

Service; RARC-WP-14-009; 2/18/2014

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 16
Appendices Appendix A

PARIS Risk Models

Complete listing of all OIG PARIS Risk Models issued to Postal Service management. 

For the Period: October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014

Delivery and Post Office Operations

Fiscal Year 2013 City Delivery Efficiency Risk 

Model Quarter 4; DR-PM-14-001; 11/22/2013

Fiscal Year 2014 City Delivery Efficiency Risk 

Model Quarter 1; DR-PM-14-002; 3/3/2014

Fiscal Year 2014 Vehicle Maintenance Efficiency 

Risk Model Quarter 1; DR-PM-14-003; 

3/3/2014

Finance

Fiscal Year 2013 Bank Secrecy Act Risk Model 

Quarter 4; FT-PM-14-001; 1/2/2014

Fiscal Year 2013 Business Mail Entry Unit Risk 

Model Quarter 4; FT-PM-14-003; 11/27/2013

Fiscal Year 2013 Financial Cost and Controls Risk 

Model Quarter 4; FT-PM-14-002; 11/15/2013

Fiscal Year 2014 Bank Secrecy Act Risk Model 

Quarter 1; FT-PM-14-006; 2/14/2014

Fiscal Year 2014 Business Mail Entry Unit Risk 

Model Quarter 1; FT-PM-14-005; 2/18/2014

Fiscal Year 2014 Financial Cost and Controls Risk 

Model Quarter 1; FT-PM-14-004; 2/14/2014

Human Resources and Support

Fiscal Year 2013 Human Capital Optimization Risk 

Model Quarter 4; HR-PM-14-001; 11/19/2013

Fiscal Year 2013 Workplace Environment Risk 

Model Quarter 4; HR-PM-14-002; 11/19/2013

Fiscal Year 2014 Human Resource Risk Model 

Quarter 1; HR-PM-14-003; 2/14/2014

Information Technology

Fiscal Year 2013 Information Technology 

Security Risk Model Quarter 4; IT-PM-14-001; 

11/13/2013

Fiscal Year 2014 Information Technology Security 

Risk Model Quarter 1; IT-PM-14-002; 2/10/2014

Network Processing and Transportation

Fiscal Year 2013 Air Transportation Risk Model 

Quarter 4; NO-PM-14-004; 11/15/2013

Fiscal Year 2013 Machines That Speak Risk 

Model Quarter 4; NO-PM-14-001; 10/23/2013

Fiscal Year 2013 Network and Delivery 

Optimization Risk Model Quarter 4; 

NO-PM-14-003; 11/8/2013

Fiscal Year 2013 Surface Transportation Risk 

Model Quarter 4; NO-PM-14-002; 11/6/2013

Fiscal Year 2014 Air Transportation Module - 

Summary of FY10 - FY13 Results Risk Model 

Quarter 1; NO-PM-14-006; 2/14/2014

Fiscal Year 2014 Mail Processing Risk Model 

Quarter 1; NO-PM-14-007; 2/14/2014

Fiscal Year 2014 Surface Transportation Risk 

Model Quarter 1; NO-PM-14-005; 2/11/2014

Sales and Marketing

Fiscal Year 2013 Retail Customer Service Risk 

Model Quarter 4; MS-PM-14-001; 11/15/2013

Fiscal Year 2013 Revenue Generation and 

Protection Risk Model Quarter 4; 

MS-PM-14-002; 11/15/2013

Fiscal Year 2014 Retail Customer Service Risk 

Model Quarter 1; MS-PM-14-003; 2/18/2014

Fiscal Year 2014 Revenue Generation and 

Protection Risk Model Quarter 1; 

MS-PM-14-004; 2/18/2014

Supply Management and Facilities

Fiscal Year 2013 Real Estate Risk Model 

Quarter 4; SM-PM-14-002; 11/14/2013

Fiscal Year 2013 Supplier Solvency Risk Model 

Quarter 4; SM-PM-14-001; 11/15/2013

Fiscal Year 2014 Real Estate Risk Model 

Quarter 1; SM-PM-14-004; 2/14/2014

Fiscal Year 2014 Supplier Solvency Risk Model 

Quarter 1; SM-PM-14-003; 2/14/2014

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 17
Appendices

Appendix B

Findings of Questioned Costs

For the Period: October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014

As required by the IG Act, the following pages show the total number of audit reports and the total dollar value of questioned costs in audit reports.

Questioned Cost: A cost that is unnecessary, unreasonable, unsupported, or an alleged violation of law, regulation, or contract.

Description

Number 

of Reports Questioned Costs

Unsupported Costs 

Included in 

Questioned Costs

Reports for which no management decision was made at the beginning of the reporting period 1 $2,400,000 $2,400,000

Reports requiring management decision that were issued during the reporting period 7 $33,075,002 $19,508,476

Totals 8 $35,475,002 $21,908,476

Reports for which a management decision was made during the reporting period (i+ii) 7 $32,635,751 $19,069,225

(i) Dollar value of disallowed cost 3 $18,420,130 $16,669,225

(ii) Dollar value of cost not disallowed 5 $14,215,621 $2,400,000

Reports for which no management decision was made by the end of the reporting period. 

Negotiations are ongoing.

1 $2,839,251 $2,839,251 

Reports for which no management decision was made within 6 months of issuance — — —

Reports for which no management decision was made within 1 year of issuance — — —

Note 1 — Reports for which no management decision was made within 6 months of issuance:

None this report period.

Note 2 — Reports for which no management decision was made within 1 year of issuance: 

None this report period.

Note 3 — Contract Reports with Significant Audit Finding: 

None this report period.

Appendix B

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 18
Appendices Appendix C

Description Number of Reports Dollar Value

Reports for which no management decision was made at the beginning of the reporting period — —

Reports issued during the reporting period 6 $98,878,630

TOTALS 6 $98,878,630

Reports for which a management decision was made during the report period 6 $98,878,630

(i) Value of recommendations agreed to by management 3 $48,468,916 

(ii) Value of recommendations that were not agreed to by management 4 $50,409,714 

Reports for which no management decision was made by the end of the reporting period — — 

Reports for which no management decision was made within six months of issuance (See Note 1 for 

a list of individual reports)

— —

Reports for which no management decision was made within one year of issuance (See Note 2 for a 

list of individual reports)

— —

Note 1 — Reports for which no management decision was made within 6 months of issuance:

None for this report period.

Note 2 — Reports for which no management decision was made within 1 year of issuance:

None for this report period.

Appendix C 

Recommendations That Funds Be Put to Better Use

For the Period: October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014

As required by the IG Act, the following pages show the total number of audit reports and the total dollar value of recommendations for funds 

that can be put to better use by management.

Funds Put to Better Use: Funds that could be used more efficiently by implementing recommended actions.

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 19
Appendices Appendix D

Appendix D 

Other Impacts

For the period October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014

Overview

Many of our audit reports identify areas for improvement that result in non-monetary benefits to the Postal Service. These benefits include 

improvements to service, protection of assets and improvements in the reliability of data.

Type of Measure Value or Amount

IMPROVED SERVICE

Recommendations that address the Postal Service’s efforts to improve the quality and accessibility of its products and 

services

Number of Recommendations 22

Number of customer service audits conducted Number of Audits 12

SAFEGUARDING ASSETS

Assets or Accountable Items at Risk

Inadequate internal controls put the value of assets or accountable items (e.g., cash and stamps) at risk of loss Dollar Value $345,500,562

Physical Safety and Security

Dollar value of physical assets (plant, computer equipment, vehicles, etc.) at risk of loss due to inadequate 

physical protection

Dollar Value —

Recommendations that address the safety and security of Postal Service employees and/or the work environment Number of Recommendations 13

Number of employee/facility safety and security audits conducted Number of Audits 13

Information Technology Security

Inadequate controls/protection put the value of data, IT assets (software, networks), and employee work time at 

risk of loss

Dollar Value —

Dollar value of data at risk Dollar Value —

Number of data security/IT security audits conducted Number of Audits 7

Revenue at Risk

Dollar value of revenue that the Postal Service is at risk of losing (mailer seeking alternative solutions for current services) Dollar Value $119,890,320

Disbursements at Risk

Dollar value of disbursements made where proper Postal Service internal controls and processes were not followed Dollar Value $605,838

Goodwill/Branding

An adverse impact on goodwill is an actual event/problem that harms the Postal Service’s reputation or a potential 

problem that could negatively impact the Postal Service “brand name”

Number of Issues Identified 18

Misallocation of Costs 

A misallocation of costs can occur when Postal Service costs are misclassified as volume variable, product specific, 

or institutional cost

Dollar Value —

Capital Investment Savings Shortfall and Predicted Savings Shortfall

The difference between the savings predicted by the Decision Analysis Report for capital investment projects and the 

actual savings realized, and the difference between the savings predicted by the Postal Service for a project

(e.g., capital investment, consolidation, etc.) and the actual savings realized or the OIG estimate of savings 

which will be realized

Dollar Value —

Potential Additional Revenue

Revenue the Postal Service potentially generate for goods delivered or services rendered based on suggested 

improvements

Dollar Value $7,137,890

RELIABILITY OF DATA

Records at Risk

Data at risk of corruption or loss due to inadequate internal controls and or protection Number of Data Records at Risk 325 

Dollar value of data used to support management decisions that is not fully supported or completely accurate Dollar Value $15,023,269

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 20
Appendices Appendix E

Report Number Issued Date 

Report Title, Recommendation Summary 

R = Recommendation number

TID = Target Implementation Date

FF-MA-08-001 07/21/2008 Fiscal Year 2008 – Use of No-Fee Money Orders

R-2 — Evaluate the feasibility of restricting the use of no-fee money orders for local purchases in order to reduce the Postal 

Service’s exposure to financial loss. TID: September 2013

IS-AR-09-004 02/20/2009 Access Controls in the Enterprise Data Warehouse

R-3 — Update the Business Impact Assessment for the Enterprise Data Warehouse and recertify the system as required by 

Postal Service Handbook AS-805-A, Application Information Security Assurance Process. TID: September 2014

IS-AR-10-008 05/04/2010 Certification and Accreditation Process

R-9 — Work with executive sponsors to resolve unmitigated residual risks identified in the risk mitigation plans and 

recertification letters associated with the critical applications. TID: May 2014

CA-AR-10-004 05/27/2010 Contract Payment Terms

R-1 — Revise the Postal Service’s Supplying Principles and Practices, Section 5 12.2, Payment Time Frame, and other sections 

as necessary, with language stating that when contracting officers negotiate payment terms other than net 30 days they 

include the business rationale and associated documentation for the payment terms in the contract file. 

TID: February 2014

DA-MA-10-004 08/31/2010 Postal Service Patent Management

R-1 — Establish a strategic plan with timelines to capitalize on the Postal Service’s patent inventory strength. TID: June 2012

CA-AR-10-005 09/20/2010 U.S. Postal Service Purchasing Policies

R-5 — Take steps to ensure full and accurate tracking and public reporting of noncompetitive contracting actions. Data reported 

should include, but not be limited to, total dollars committed both competitively and noncompetitively; and the contractor, 

dollar value, and noncompetitive justifications for noncompetitive contracts. The tracking mechanism should be able to 

identify when a noncompetitive contract has crossed the review and approval threshold based on modification after initial 

award. TID: February 2012

IS-AR-10-014 09/23/2010 Controls Over Payment Card Transaction Data

R-1 — Finalize and implement a Payment Card Industry remediation plan that includes all associated costs, resources, and 

milestones needed to achieve and maintain Payment Card Industry-Data Security Standards compliance. 

TID: December 2014

NL-AR-10-009 09/29/2010 Management of Mail Transport Equipment - National Analysis 

R-1 — Further develop, update and reinforce national mail transport equipment policies and procedures contained in the Postal 

Operations Manual and the Postal Handbook PO-502, Container Methods, which address mail transport equipment 

inventory and accountability controls, including validating customer mail transport equipment needs as well as tracking 

and reconciling mail transport equipment loaned to mailers and other external customers. TID: February 2014

CA-AR-10-006 09/30/2010 Certification Process for Electronic Payments

R-1 — Develop an oversight mechanism to monitor and ensure contracting officers’ and/or designated officials’ receipt and 

certification of invoices. TID: October 2012

R-2 — Reiterate to contracting officers and/or their designees their roles and responsibilities, and the importance of following 

Postal Service criteria, policies, and procedures for certification of invoices prior to payment to ensure that invoices are 

correct and goods and services were received. TID: February 2014

R-3 — Develop and implement written procedures for receiving invoices for annual highway contract route services and verifying 

that services were rendered prior to payment. TID: October 2014

R-8 — Ensure that Utility Management System designated official contact information is accurate and that the system requires 

positive certification by the designated official before invoice payment. TID: November 2013

FF-AR-11-004 12/15/2010 Express Mail Guarantees 

R-5 — Establish a timeframe for and develop a process to analyze Express Mail refunds by origin and destination to evaluate risk 

and identify necessary changes in service in order to make better business decisions for guarantees. 

TID: December 2014

Appendix E 

Reports with Significant Recommendations Pending Corrective Actions 

For the period through March 31, 2014 

As required by the IG Act, the following pages include a list of each audit report for which no management decision has been made by the end of 

the reporting period.

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 21
Appendices Appendix E

Report Number Issued Date 

Report Title, Recommendation Summary

R = Recommendation number

TID = Target Implementation Date

IT-AR-11-004 03/16/2011 Computer Incident Data Reliability

R-4 — Either modify the existing incident management system or pursue development of a new system that enforces date and 

time value sequence and data validation. TID: September 2014

DA-MA-11-002 04/08/2011 Postal Service Patent Management Continuation

R-1 — Work closely with subject matter experts to review highly rated patents to draft claims as appropriate. 

TID: September 2013

R-3 — Ensure the Postal Service has an effective patent management process and comprehensive licensing program in place. 

This establishes control that protects intellectual capital and provides an appropriate return on investment.

TID: September 2013

CA-AR-11-004 04/27/2011 Internal Controls over the Contract Close-out Process

R-3 — Establish a periodic control to ensure category management center personnel follow records management requirements 

for contract files, including, but not limited to retaining records for the required 6 years. TID: December 2013

DA-AR-11-010 08/30/2011 Intelligent Mail: Realizing Revenue Assurance Benefits

R-1 — Establish timeframes for implementing the enhanced/expanded automated verifications as described in the original 

Intelligent Mail infrastructure Decision Analysis Report. TID: January 2013

R-2 — Develop a tolerance level for low scan rates to use for exception reporting. TID: January 2013

R-3 — Develop a process for identifying the cause(s) of low scan rates for customer follow-up as warranted. TID: January 2013

FF-AR-11-013 08/30/2011 Postal Service Refunds

R-2 — Analyze and establish an administrative and minimum fee that will cover processing costs. TID: January 2014

CRR-AR-11-003 09/06/2011 Service Performance Measurement Data - Commercial Mail

R-1 — Establish milestones for implementing recovery of Full-Service Intelligent Mail Barcode discounts provided to mailers 

when Full-Service mailings do not meet the specific requirements for the discounts received. TID: November 2013

IT-AR-11-008 09/14/2011 Remote Access Controls

R-11 — Suspend remote access for all employees or contractors until they complete required security awareness training. 

TID: June 2014

HR-AR-11-002 09/19/2011 Postal Service Work Rules and Compensation Systems 

R-3 — A comprehensive study to determine the optimal incentive-based carrier compensation system. TID: June 2013

FF-AR-11-015 09/23/2011 Business Mail Acceptance Centralization Process 

R-2 — Require each district to conduct a centralization feasibility study, document the results, and take action based on the 

results of the study, as appropriate. TID: October 2013

R-3 — Manage business mail entry workhour usage to achieve 93 percent efficiency and develop tools to monitor performance. 

TID: October 2013

R-4 — Establish annual goals for business mail entry workhour efficiency to include measuring performance against goals. 

TID: October 2013

CA-AR-11-007 09/30/2011 Contract Postal Units Contract Oversight 

R-1 — Require Contract Postal Unit contractors to submit invoices for payment. TID: November 2013

R-2 — Create a process to ensure the contracting officer or contracting officer’s representative validates and certifies invoices 

prior to payment, using data maintained in the Contract Postal Unit Technology system. TID: November 2013

HR-AR-11-007 09/30/2011 Postal Service Workers’ Compensation Program

R-5 — Develop mandatory and refresher training for Postal Service officials responsible for workers’ compensation to ensure 

they are aware of their roles and responsibilities for workers’ compensation. TID: October 2014

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 22
Appendices Appendix E

Report Number Issued Date 

Report Title, Recommendation Summary

R = Recommendation number

TID = Target Implementation Date

MS-AR-11-007 09/30/2011 Strategic Approaches to Revenue Protection

R-1 — Work with a broadened group of internal and external stakeholders to prepare for streamlining the entry of business mail, 

accelerate the timeline for streamlined acceptance and verification, and seek to leverage technology to provide revenue 

protection for Basic Service Intelligent Mail and non-automated volumes. TID: October 2013

IT-AR-12-001 10/21/2011 State of Corporate Information Technology Security

R-2 — Complete the certification and accreditation process for the remaining national applications. TID: December 2013

R-4 — Implement a corporate-wide encryption solution to enhance the sensitive data protection effort. TID: October 2013

CA-AR-12-001 11/02/2011 Contracting Opportunities and Impact of the Service Contract Act 

R-2 — Review the benefits of outsourcing cleaning/janitorial service positions and postal service vehicle driver positions and 

work with Supply Management to restructure those positions to achieve the most cost effective solution. 

TID: March 2013

R-3 — Working with Supply Management and Postal Service program officials, ensure that appropriate financial data are 

collected to aid in making in-sourcing/outsourcing decisions. TID: March 2013

IT-AR-12-002 01/09/2012 Patch Management Processes

R-1 — Ensure that all operating system and database patches are tested, documented, and implemented as required by 

Handbook AS-805, Information Security. TID: September 2014

R-2 — Ensure that administrators obtain required policy exception approvals when system patches are not applied. 

TID: September 2014

R-3 — Ensure that written procedures are developed to define the patch management process for each group, operating 

system, and database to include test and back-out plans. TID: September 2014

R-4 — Ensure that configuration management inventory records are reconciled to the actual servers and databases for their 

respective group. TID: September 2014

R-6 — Implement a common method for all entities to track information technology asset and patch information. 

TID: September 2014

R-7 — Ensure vulnerability mediation training is provided to all employees and contractors responsible for enterprise patch 

management. TID: September 2014

R-8 — Conduct risk assessments and cost analyses to develop an enterprise-wide migration plan for upgrading unsupported 

operating systems and databases to vendor-supported software. TID: September 2014

R-9 — Adopt a method to identify, capture, and report patch management metrics to assist with oversight of the patch 

management process and facilitate related business and security decisions. TID: September 2014

IT-AR-12-003 01/09/2012 Fiscal Year 2011 Information Technology Internal Controls 

R-1 — Implement corrective actions to address all open issues noted in this report for fiscal years 2010 and 2011. 

TID: April 2014

MS-AR-12-002 01/12/2012 Mail Verification Procedures at Detached Mail Units 

R-1 — Review automation efforts to date to identify improvements that can be made in the interim while mailers continue to 

implement Intelligent Mail barcode technologies. TID: June 2013

R-2 — Continue ongoing mail verification training efforts while detached mail unit employees continue to use manual mail 

verification processes. TID: October 2013

R-3 — Enhance automated systems to notify managers when acceptance employees override Mail Evaluation Readability 

Lookup Instrument results. TID: June 2013

R-4 — Develop and implement automated tools that managers can use to monitor and evaluate detached mail unit staffing and 

scheduling. TID: June 2013

CI-AR-12-004 02/02/2012 Domestic Mail Manual Preparation and Acceptance Mail Instructions 

R-1 — Combine and remove all duplications in the Domestic Mail Manual, Quick Service Guides, Business Mail Acceptance, Job 

Aids, and Customer Support Rulings; and publish a new document available to all mailers online. TID: November 2013

R-2 — Migrate to a one permit per customer requirement using PostalOne! TID: August 2013

R-3 — Archive all PostalOne! deleted or canceled permits. TID: April 2015

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 23
Appendices Appendix E

Report Number Issued Date 

Report Title, Recommendation Summary

R = Recommendation number

TID = Target Implementation Date

NL-AR-12-001 02/02/2012 Postal Vehicle Service Transportation Routes – Margaret L. Sellers Processing and Distribution Center 

R-2 — Verify the reallocation of 2,424 workhours within existing postal vehicle service (PVS) schedules and reallocate an 

additional 5,728 workhours within PVS schedules to accommodate future Flats Sequencing System implementation. 

TID: November 2012

NO-MA-12-001 04/27/2012 Assessment of Overall Plant Efficiency 2012

R-1 — Reduce 14,268,171 workhours by fiscal year 2014 with an associated economic impact of $664,997,872. 

TID: September 2014

MS-AR-12-003 05/04/2012 Package Delivery Growth 

R-2 — Develop enhancements to the CustomerFirst! system to ensure that the data and information contained within are reliable 

and useful. TID: January 2015

R-4 Evaluate the feasibility of offering a local product the customer either arranges to have picked up or takes to the local 

Post Office for sortation and delivery without involving a mail processing plant. TID: December 2013

R-5 — Continue to pursue legislative change that will allow the Postal Service to ship beer and wine. TID: January 2014

NL-AR-12-006 05/29/2012 POSTAL SERVICE INITIATIVE: Consolidation of Mail for Transportation Between Network Distribution Centers

R-3 — Add Jacksonville Network Distribution Center’s Puerto Rico Highway Contract Routes 32202 and 32204 into the 

consolidation initiative. TID: September 2012

DR-AR-12-001 06/05/2012 City Delivery – Street Efficiency San Diego District

R-1 — Reduce 83,943 workhours to achieve an associated economic impact of more than $3.3 million annually or $6.8 million 

over 2 years. TID: October 2014

NO-AR-12-005 06/05/2012 Efficiency Review of the Cleveland, OH Processing and Distribution Center 

R-1 — By fiscal year 2017, reduce workhours by 352,388 to produce a cost avoidance of $22.7 million over the following 

2 years, or through consolidations, increase mail volume by 377 million, or a combination of workhours reductions and 

mail volume increases that will achieve the median productivity level of 1,069 pieces per hour. TID: September 2014

IT-AR-12-008 06/25/2012 Security Awareness Training Program

R-4 — Work with applicable managers to take appropriate action, including suspending access if necessary, to ensure 

employees and contractors complete the security awareness training in compliance with Handbook AS-805, Information 

Security, and regulatory requirements. TID: June 2014

DA-MA-12-005 07/16/2012 21st Century Post Office: Non-Postal Products and Services

R-1 — Develop a strategy to identify, evaluate and offer the most promising non-postal products and services, including how to 

overcome identified barriers, when legislation permits. TID: December 2015

NO-AR-12-007 08/03/2012 Efficiency Review of the Los Angeles Network Distribution Center 

R-1 — Reduce workhours by 200,019 by fiscal year 2017 to produce an annual cost avoidance of about $6.5 million, or 

increase volume by 39 million pieces, or combine workhour reductions and mail volume increases that will achieve the 

above average median productivity level of 117 pieces per hour. TID: February 2015

CI-AR-12-006 08/14/2012 Delivery Fleet Strategies

R-2 — Establish an annual new vehicle replacement strategy, as part of a comprehensive fleet management strategy, to replace 

part of the fleet each year, spread out the expenditures over time, and ensure the overall operational functionality of the 

fleet. TID: September 2016

DR-AR-12-003 08/16/2012 City Delivery – Street Efficiency Capital District

R-1 — Reduce 110,740 workhours to achieve an associated economic impact of $4.5 million annually, or $9 million over 

2 years. TID: October 2014

DR-AR-12-004 08/16/2012 City Delivery – Street Efficiency Louisiana District

R-1 — Reduce 107,550 workhours to achieve an associated impact of more than $4.4 million annually, or $8.8 million over 

2 years. TID: September 2014

EN-AR-12-003 08/17/2012 Efficiency of Customer Service Operations

R-3 — Provide training as needed to customer service managers that would enable them to effectively use managerial reports 

and tools. TID: September 2013

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 24
Appendices Appendix E

Report Number Issued Date 

Report Title, Recommendation Summary

R = Recommendation number

TID = Target Implementation Date

DR-AR-12-005 08/21/2012 Carrier Optimal Routing System Phase ll 

R-1 — Continue to pursue funding to resolve performance issues with the Web Carrier Optimal Routing system and implement 

the web-based program nationwide. TID: April 2014

DR-AR-12-006 08/24/2012 City Delivery Staffing

R-1 — Balance the number of full-time carriers per route and manage labor cost within established fiscal year budgets. TID: None

R-2 — Continue pursuing the ability to increase the number of part-time, non-career flexible employees at installations nationwide 

in the city letter carrier craft to reduce labor costs. TID: None

DR-MA-12-002 08/24/2012 City Delivery Route Optimization Pilot Initiative

R-2 — Execute a new initiative to maximize savings by using lessons learned and data results from the pilot with the goal of 

optimizing the full- and part-time staff mix. TID: None

MS-AR-12-007 09/10/2012 Customer Complaint Resolution Process

R-2 — Identify deficiencies and desired enhancements for the Enterprise Consumer Care system and take necessary action to 

notify the Information Technology department. TID: March 2014

IT-AR-12-009 09/12/2012 Security of File Transfer Protocol Transmissions

R-1 — Assign a controlling authority the responsibility for managing all electronic file transfer activities and enforcing electronic 

file transfer policies. TID: September 2017

R-3 — Direct the controlling authority identified in recommendation 1 to develop a business case solution to mitigate and, 

ultimately, eliminate the use of file transfer protocol transmissions to ensure the protection of sensitive data in accordance 

with Handbook AS-805, Information Security. TID: September 2017

R-4 — Conduct periodic security assessments to identify and monitor file transfer protocol usage throughout the Postal Service 

network. TID: September 2017

R-5 — Identify, monitor, and remove all unnecessary file transfer protocol services running on all servers and mainframes and 

identify the related sensitive applications. TID: September 2017

R-6 — Implement a secure electronic file transfer protocol for receiving manifest files from external business partners. 

TID: September 2017

DA-AR-12-002 09/18/2012 Lease Purchase Options for Postal Service Facilities

R-2 — Establish procedures for assigning lease purchase options to third parties in the real estate market. TID: November 2013

HR-AR-12-006 09/21/2012 Motor Vehicle Accident Prevention Program

R-2 — Provide periodic refresher training to supervisors on the Safe Driver Program and ensure employees performing driving 

observations take the Driver Observation training course. TID: June 2013

NL-AR-12-008 09/21/2012 St. Louis Network Distribution Center — Postal Vehicle Service Operations

R-1 — Periodically assess postal vehicle service spotter truck driver workload and staffing requirements with respect to 

productivity standards to maintain appropriate staffing levels. TID: July 2012

R-3 — Ensure that St. Louis Network Distribution Center management re-emphasize the safety policy that drivers must wear 

safety belts whenever the vehicle is in motion and provide management oversight for enforcement. TID: September 2012

CA-AR-12-006 09/28/2012 Oversight of Equitable Adjustments

R-1 — Require contracting officers to include a general release of claims in all supplemental agreements that constitute a 

release by the supplier for additional costs beyond that which is provided for in the contract modification or a more 

specific release in complex or contentious equitable adjustments. TID: November 2012

R-3 — Reiterate the contract file tracking process to ensure contract files are not lost when they are transferred from one office 

to another. TID: December 2013

CI-AR-12-007 09/28/2012 Post-Implementation Review Process

R-1 — Improve the Post-Implementation Review (PIR) process in Handbook PO-408, Area Mail Processing Guidelines, to: 

Identify and separate savings and costs associated with concurrent initiatives from savings and costs directly related 

to the area mail processing consolidation. Implement the use of automated data calculation and pre-population for PIR 

worksheets and checklists. Establish a process to allocate savings and costs when multiple consolidations are made into 

the same gaining facility. Assess whether current PIR timelines should be adjusted. TID: March 2014

DA-AR-12-004 09/28/2012 Accuracy of the Electronic Facilities Management System 

R-3 — Develop and administer training for the use of Electronic Facilities Management System. TID: None

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 25
Appendices Appendix E

Report Number Issued Date 

Report Title, Recommendation Summary

R = Recommendation number

TID = Target Implementation Date

DA-MA-12-006 09/28/2012 Partnerships with Other Government Agencies

R-1 — Clearly define organizational roles and responsibilities for developing and managing partnerships with other federal 

agencies and establish a written policy to identify, develop, track, and follow-up on potential partnership opportunities. 

TID: February 2013

DR-MA-12-003 09/28/2012 City Delivery Operations - Lancaster Carrier Annex 

R-1 — Reduce 12,339 office and street workhours in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 to achieve an annualized economic impact of 

$515,838, or $1,031,676 over 2 years. TID: September 2014

NL-AR-12-010 09/28/2012 First-Class Mail on Air Transportation – Assignment by Weight

R-1 — Modify the assignment process to assign First-Class Mail to air transportation considering weight where feasible, with 

the heavier mail being assigned to FedEx and the lighter mail being assigned to United Parcel Service and commercial 

passenger air carriers – with consideration of contractor service performance and future air transportation contract 

requirements. TID: December 2014

NL-AR-12-011 09/28/2012 Mail Transport Equipment – Shortages of Pallets, Tubs, and Trays – Fall 2011 Mailing Season

R-2 — Finalize implementation of prior U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General recommendations from the Management 

of Mail Transport Equipment (MTE) – National Analysis audit (Report Number NL-AR-10-009, dated September 29, 

2010) covering an automated inventory and tracking system, ensuring adequate resources for areas and plants, and 

update policies and procedures that support current MTE operational requirements. TID: October 2013

R-4 — Evaluate the best practices identified in this report and identify any applicable industry best practices for implementation 

(considering costs and benefits), such as the viability of implementing Radio Frequency Identification technology to 

control the leakage of plastic pallets and reduce annual purchase of replacement plastic pallets. TID: March 2013

DA-MA-13-001 10/02/2012 Biohazard Detection System Progress

R-1 — Complete a comprehensive update to the 2002 threat assessment to determine risks to the mail stream prior to 

procuring new biohazard detection equipment. TID: September 2013

R-2 — Develop a policy requiring periodic update of threat assessments. TID: July 2013

CA-AR-13-001 10/09/2012 Best Value in the Purchasing Process 

R-2 — Update the contract file transfer process to include a step to require the receiving contract officials to certify that contract 

files contain required documentation. TID: March 2014

DR-AR-13-001 10/11/2012 Delivery Operations Data Usage 

R-1 — Streamline systems, reports (including exception based reporting) and data (including real-time data) to meet city 

delivery needs. TID: June 2012

DP-AR-13-001 01/03/2013 Caller and Reserve Service Operations

R-1 — Implement, if feasible, an automated process to identify all inactive or unassigned caller and reserve service addresses by 

linking mailing data systems to the Web Box Activity Tracking System. TID: August 2013

R-3 — Update caller and reserve service policies and procedures so they are consistent, clear, accurate, and easily located and 

accessible in one place. TID: January 2014

IT-AR-13-003 01/28/2013 Fiscal Year 2012 Information Technology Internal Controls 

R-3 — Implement corrective actions as coordinated between the Information Technology Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance 

Management Office and the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General during the audit relating to use of scans, 

scripts, and monitoring efforts to confirm the installation and reporting of intrusion detection and prevention software or 

services on all in-scope Windows and UNIX servers. TID: April 2014

R-6 — Implement corrective actions as coordinated between the Information Technology Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance 

Management Office and the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General during the audit relating to compliance with 

expected Windows operating system configurations on in-scope servers. TID: April 2014

R-8 — Implement corrective actions as coordinated between the Information Technology Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance 

Management Office and the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General during the audit relating to redesign of 

the control over UNIX configurations to remove duplication and better reflect expectations for controls over financial 

reporting. TID: April 2014

R-9 — Implement corrective actions as coordinated between the Information Technology Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance 

Management Office and the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General during the audit relating to alignment of the 

procedures and processes used to test and approve UNIX patches before implementation in the production environment. 

TID: April 2014

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 26
Appendices Appendix E

Report Number Issued Date 

Report Title, Recommendation Summary

R = Recommendation number

TID = Target Implementation Date

SM-MA-13-004 02/12/2013 Hybrid Mail Efforts

R-1 — Develop a business strategy to increase hybrid mail revenue for small- and medium-sized businesses if profitable and 

feasible (including transactional mail) and overcome privacy concerns. TID: None

SM-MA-13-002 03/15/2013 Trends and Systemic Issues in Defense Contract Audit Agency Audit Work for Fiscal Years 2009-2012

R-1 — Emphasize to contracting officials the importance of requesting Defense Contract Audit Agency audits of contractor 

accounting systems, significant equitable adjustment and termination claims, labor floor checks, and financial capability, 

where applicable, prior to contract award. TID: February 2014

MS-AR-13-005 03/18/2013 Residential Customer Service Experiences

R-1 — Update the residential Customer Experience Measurement survey to allow customers to provide more definitive location 

identifiers (for example, Post OfficeTM name, city, and ZIP Code) that relate to their experiences. TID: March 2014

R-2 — Develop a process to collect and analyze residential customer experience information from other access channels. 

TID: March 2014

R-3 — Develop a strategy to design and implement corrective actions in a more timely and responsive manner when poor 

customer service experience scores are identified. TID: September 2014

R-4 — Ensure that mechanisms are developed and implemented to track residential customer experiences as key operational 

initiatives are taken to improve the Postal Service’s financial condition. TID: September 2014

DR-MA-13-001 03/21/2013 Lessons Learned From Retail Optimization Initiatives

R-1 — Process and approve or disapprove the remaining 600 Retail Access Optimization Initiative discontinuance proposals. 

TID: September 2014

R-3 — Develop and implement a formal post-implementation review that evaluates savings achieved and potential revenue loss 

associated with retail network realignments. TID: November 2014

NO-AR-13-001 03/21/2013 Washington Network Distribution Center – Postal Vehicle Service Operations

R-1 — Follow prescribed Postal Service standard operating procedures to the extent possible for live loading mail into trailers for 

immediate movement from the facility yard and consider the reduction of moves in future workload and staffing analyses. 

TID: March 2013

R-2 — Periodically assess Postal Vehicle Service truck driver workload and staffing requirements with respect to productivity 

standards to maintain appropriate staffing levels. TID: April 2013

NO-MA-13-005 04/04/2013 Supervisor Workhours and Span of Control

R-2 — Fill vacant supervisor positions up to the appropriate span of control level and reduce supervisor replacement workhours 

accordingly. TID: October 2013

DP-AR-13-004 04/23/2013 U.S. Postal Service Data Governance

R-1 — Direct the vice president, Information Technology, to implement a formal, enterprise-wide data governance program. 

TID: September 2014

MS-AR-13-007 04/29/2013 Domestic Negotiated Service Agreements

R-1 — Develop and implement standardized procedures for managing negotiated service agreements. The procedures should 

include requirements for validating data used by individuals for various internal and external reporting purposes. 

TID: October 2013

R-2 — Create a data retention policy and central repository for data archival. Specifically, the data should be retained throughout 

the life of the agreement and for a specified period after the agreement expires or is terminated. Historical data should 

include: The methodology used by the Postal Service to project a customer’s mail volume to determine discounts. A 

comparison of the mailer’s pre-agreement volumes with its annual volumes under the negotiated service agreement. 

Analyses of data from other mailers with similar negotiated service agreements. TID: October 2013

DR-MA-13-002 05/06/2013 U.S. Postal Service Parcel Delivery Lockers

R-2 — Add revenue and cost reduction features to the pilot to maximize return-on-investment opportunities. 

TID: December 2014

DR-AR-13-004 05/24/2013 City Delivery Street Efficiency Southern, Pacific, and Western Areas

R-1 — Reduce 340,499 workhours in the five districts cited. TID: October 2014

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 27
Appendices Appendix E

Report Number Issued Date 

Report Title, Recommendation Summary

R = Recommendation number

TID = Target Implementation Date

DP-AR-13-008 06/19/2013 Delivering Results, Innovation, Value, and Efficiency Management

R-2 — Develop and implement a Postal Service-wide program management policy that identifies the best practices currently 

employed by the Postal Service, as well as differentiates between mandated and optional practices. This process should 

also take into consideration best practices, including those provided by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector 

General. TID: September 2014

MS-AR-13-009 06/20/2013 Small Business Growth

R-3 — Establish a process for improving the availability and use of sales-related tools, market data, and training. The process 

should include providing postmasters additional training on selling Postal Service products and services, updating data in 

the Business Opportunity Tool Kit, and providing postmasters with product sales scripts and market data. TID: June 2014

HR-MA-13-003 07/12/2013 Postal Career Executive Service I Annual Leave

R-2 — Modify and test leave system controls to ensure U.S. Postal Inspection Service Postal Career Executive Service I equivalent 

employees’ annual leave amounts are calculated according to Postal Service policy, and communicate policy to applicable 

personnel. TID: January 2014

HR-AR-13-004 07/25/2013 Postal Service Injury Compensation Program

R-1 — Conduct a formal staffing analysis to determine the number and type of employees needed to handle workers’ 

compensation claims, including Health and Resource Management specialists, internal or contract nurses, specially 

trained or contract third-party recovery specialists, or other support personnel; and adjust staffing accordingly. 

TID: January 2014

R-4 — Complete the nationwide implementation of WebESP to provide a more efficient and effective process for identifying and 

assigning available work for injured employees. TID: March 2014

R-5 — Develop a simplified and standardized quick reference guide of key process steps to help district Health Resource 

Management staff effectively perform their duties. TID: December 2013

R-8 — Evaluate how predictive analytics can be used to support claims management activities and reduce costs. TID: None

IT-AR-13-006 07/31/2013 Management and Utilization of Software Licenses 

R-4 — Require management to establish and maintain an enterprise-wide software inventory list and periodically scan 

workstations to identify unauthorized software products running on the Postal Service network. TID: April 2014

DR-MA-13-003 08/06/2013 Delivery Data Transmission

R-3 — Modify the Intelligent Mail Device Acquisition System report for delivery unit management to provide unit and route 

specific information on cell phone and Intelligent Mail Data Device scanner connectivity. TID: October 2013

MS-MA-13-004 08/14/2013 Benchmarking of Costing Methodologies

R-1 — Develop a formal process, in coordination with the chief information officer and chief operating officer, to strengthen 

the communication process between Finance, Operations, and users of the product costing system data regarding data 

needs and production. TID: July 2016

R-2 — Establish a long-term implementation plan, in coordination with the chief information officer and chief operating officer, to 

expand usage of system-generated data that includes a data transition roadmap. TID: July 2016

R-3 — Expand usage of currently available system-generated data from operations or data that can be available in the near term 

to enable the product costing system to rely more on operations data and less on special studies. TID: July 2016

R-4 — Evaluate the feasibility of performing cost and revenue analysis at the ZIP Code level or relevant regional areas to support 

development of customer-specific rates for those products for which such price distinctions are considered legal. 

TID: None

NO-AR-13-004 08/16/2013 New Castle and Greensburg, PA Consolidation

R-1 — Coordinate with the Facility Service Office when rental space is vacated to ensure management takes appropriate lease 

termination actions. TID: December 2014

NO-AR-13-006 08/26/2013 Springfield Network Distribution Center - Postal Vehicle Service Operations

R-3 — Eliminate an additional 8,623 annual workhours associated with improving Postal Vehicle Service driver productivity to 

the standard of five moves per hour. TID: October 2014

SM-MA-13-006 09/18/2013 Postal Service Purchasing Policies’ Impact on Defective Pricing Fraud Cases

R-1 — Require suppliers to certify that cost or pricing data is accurate, complete, and current. TID: March 2014

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 28
Appendices Appendix E

Report Number Issued Date 

Report Title, Recommendation Summary

R = Recommendation number

TID = Target Implementation Date

IT-AR-13-007 09/24/2013 Engineering Systems and Network Operations Disaster Recovery Plan – Merrifield, VA Campus

R-1 — Establish, implement, and test a disaster recovery plan for Engineering Systems and Network Operations in Merrifield, 

VA, that is commensurate with the sensitivity of data, available resources, and level of risk for the applications and 

incorporates an appropriate alternative site located far enough away from the Merrifield campus that it will not be 

affected by the same disaster. TID: May 2014

R-2 — Timely complete or update, as appropriate, business impact or infrastructure impact assessments for all applications 

supported by Engineering Systems. TID: May 2014

NO-AR-13-007 09/25/2013 Surface Visibility – Transportation Operations – Oklahoma District

R-5 — Verify and document the elimination or modification of 38 trips from highway contract routes in the Oklahoma District 

and eliminate 3,636 workhours from Postal Vehicle Service trip schedules assigned to the Tulsa Processing and 

Distribution Center, or document the reasons for retaining the workhours. TID: November 2013

SM-AR-13-004 09/25/2013 Noncompetitive Purchasing Practices

R-1 — Direct contracting officials to include and verify that sufficient information is in the contract file to support price and cost 

analysis. TID: February 2014

R-2 — Reiterate policy that field personnel not approve suppliers to start work without authorization from the contracting officer. 

TID: February 2014

R-3 — Ensure contracting officials collaborate with the competition advocate and internal business partners requesting 

purchases to promote increased competition when awarding contracts. TID: February 2014

HR-MA-13-004 09/26/2013 Revenue Generation Patents

R-1 — Work closely with subject matter experts to review patents with revenue generation potential and draft claims as 

appropriate. TID: None

IT-AR-13-009 09/26/2013 LiteBlue Security Assessment 

R-1 — Enhance access controls to all Postal Service employee self-service applications. TID: April 2014

R-3 — De-identify personally identifiable information on forms loaded into the employee self-service module of the electronic 

Official Personnel Folder application. TID: None

R-8 — Develop a method by which database administrators can obtain information on specific requirements and authorizations 

for each application to track authorized account settings and parameters. TID: None

NO-MA-13-007 09/26/2013 Assessment of Overall Plant Efficiency 2013

R-1 — Reduce 14,364,398 workhours by fiscal year 2018, with an associated economic impact of $628,670,104. 

TID: September 2018

FT-MA-13-022 09/27/2013 Using U.S. Postal Service-Specific Assumptions for Calculating the Retiree Health Care Liability 

R-1 — Coordinate with the Office of Personnel Management to modify the future retiree healthcare liability calculation to use 

actuarial assumptions specific to the Postal Service. TID: None

FT-MA-13-023 09/27/2013 Using U.S. Postal Service-Specific Assumptions for Calculating the Civil Service Retirement System Liability

R-1 — Coordinate with the Office of Personnel Management to modify the future Civil Service Retirement System liability 

calculation to use actuarial assumptions specific to the Postal Service. TID: None

FT-MA-13-024 09/27/2013 Using U.S. Postal Service-Specific Assumptions for Calculating the Federal Employees Retirement System Liability

R-1 — Coordinate with the Office of Personnel Management to modify the future Federal Employees Retirement System 

liability calculation to use actuarial assumptions specific to the Postal Service and, based on the results, take action as 

appropriate. TID: None

MS-AR-13-012 09/27/2013 Electronic Parcel Payment Systems Internal Control Requirements

R-2 — Develop interim controls, such as establishing roles and responsibilities in the identification of shortpaid mailpieces, 

providing enhanced scanners to clerks and carriers, judgmentally sampling PC Postage parcels at sorting facilities and 

delivery units, and increasing the accuracy of scales on mail processing equipment, to improve detection of shortpaid 

parcels until automated controls are in place. TID: June 2014

R-4 — Implement software changes to the Electronic Verification System in order to correctly validate destination entry rates 

claimed by mailers. TID: January 2015

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 29
Appendices Appendix E

Report Number Issued Date 

Report Title, Recommendation Summary

R = Recommendation number

TID = Target Implementation Date

NO-AR-13-008 09/27/2013 Nationwide Analysis of Tier 1 Network Distribution Centers – Postal Vehicle Service Operations 

R-1 — Require the six Tier 1 Network Distribution Centers identified in the report conduct an assessment of driver workload 

and staffing and make appropriate adjustments to workhours based on compliance with yard move productivity 

standards. TID: January 2015

R-2 — Ensure Tier 1 Network Distribution Centers annually assess Postal Vehicle Service driver workload and staffing 

requirements. TID: January 2015

DR-AR-13-007 09/30/2013 Vehicle Maintenance Facility Efficiency Capital Metro and Pacific Areas 

R-1 — Fill vacant mechanic and support staff positions to improve inefficiencies in operations. TID: January 2014

R-2 — Assess the reporting structure for VOMAs and require vehicle maintenance managers or designees to provide adequate 

oversight of VOMAs to ensure they perform their vehicle maintenance-related duties. TID: January 2014

HR-AR-13-009 09/30/2013 Emergency Preparedness for Hurricane Sandy

R-1 — Provide periodic training to responsible personnel to ensure they are aware of procedures for safeguarding employees 

during an emergency. TID: None

R-2 — Clarify policies and procedures regarding employees reporting to postal facilities where mandatory evacuation orders 

have been issued. TID: March 2014

R-3 — Issue supplemental guidance for holding mail and moving mail and other assets from facilities located in mandatory 

evacuation areas. TID: March 2014

R-4 — Establish controls to ensure integrated emergency management plans are reviewed, approved, and updated at least 

annually. TID: December 2013

R-5 — Clarify which facilities are required to maintain complete, approved integrated emergency management plans and 

communicate that to appropriate personnel. TID: December 2013

NO-AR-13-009 09/30/2013 Timeliness of Mail Processing at the Hartford, CT Processing and Distribution Center

R-1 — Adjust planning and scheduling to accommodate mail volumes especially during holiday periods. TID: None

SM-AR-13-005 09/30/2013 Vacant Land Parcels

R-1 — Declare the land parcel located in Norman, OK as excess. TID: June 2014

R-3 — List the Elk River, MN; Norman, OK; and Islip, NY parcels for sale. TID: June 2014

R-4 — Evaluate the eight parcels in Kahului, HI; Cooper City, FL; Stuart, FL; Kihei, HI; Pahoa, HI; Incline Village, NV; Mendocino, 

CA; and Pinetop AZ and develop a strategy to sell the properties when market conditions improve. TID: None

R-5 — Evaluate the 10 additional parcels in Apache Junction, AZ; Central, AZ; Tehachapi, CA; Marengo, IN; Kokomo, IN; Hilton 

Head, SC; Garland, TX; Loiza, PR; Viequez, PR; and San Juan, PR to determine whether they are suitable for sale. 

TID: None

IT-AR-14-001 10/22/2013 South Florida District Vulnerability Assessment

R-3 — Develop a technical refresh plan for the engineering infrastructure that addresses obsolete Windows operating systems. 

TID: November 2013

NO-MA-14-001 10/30/2013 Voyager Card Program for Highway Contract Routes – Unidentified and Unrecovered Fuel Overpayments

R-1 — Immediately reconduct the 2009-2010 fuel year Voyager Card Program reconciliation under the pooling and 

reconciliation requirements of the Fuel Management Program and the current reconciliation methodology. 

TID: February 2014

R-2 — Validate and document the results of additional 2009-2010 fuel overpayment determinations and collect these 

overpayments. TID: April 2014

HR-MA-14-001 11/20/2013 Management of Equipment in Capitol Heights, MD

R-1 — Establish procedures to comply with the revised mail transportation equipment policy when implemented. 

TID: December 2013

SM-AR-14-002 11/27/2013 Spending Trends for Maintaining Postal Service Facilities

R-1 — Develop a strategy to complete all repairs in order to adequately maintain Postal Service facilities. TID: March 2014

R-3 — Establish written procedures to ensure repair classifications are accurate each year and to reconcile prioritization 

lists yearly to identify incomplete repairs to carry forward. TID: January 2014

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 30
Appendices Appendix E

Report Number Issued Date 

Report Title, Recommendation Summary

R = Recommendation number

TID = Target Implementation Date

IT-AR-14-002 12/02/2013 Controls Over the Premium Forwarding Service Point of Service Retail System

R-1 — Reiterate that retail unit personnel follow approved manual procedures surrounding the Premium Forwarding Service 

process and that Postal Service policies prohibit the business use of this service. TID: November 2013

R-2 — Implement automated controls in the Point-of-Service - Retail System or its successor to establish refund limitations for 

Premium Forwarding Service, ensure customers do not have an active forwarding order, validate service start and end 

dates, not allow start of service before payment, and ensure that service is between 2 and 52 weeks. 

TID: October 2015

R-3 — Enhance the Point-of-Service - Retail System or its successor to capture and store all required data for Premium 

Forwarding Service, including the customer’s name and proper primary address, first shipment date, last shipment 

date, service start date, service end date, Premium Forwarding Service number of weeks, and shipment total. 

TID: September 2014

R-4 — Incorporate into the Point-of-Service - Retail System or its successor the capability to tie all Premium Forwarding 

Service extensions and receipted refunds to the original sales transaction to ensure retail associates only disburse 

refunds for actual customer purchases, retail associates refund according to the original payment method, and the 

system eliminates risks for unintentional and intentional keying input errors. TID: January 2015

R-5 — Enhance the Point-of-Service - Retail System or its successor to develop and implement exception reports that 

incorporate loss prevention, customer relationship management, and timely, exception-based or event-driven business 

intelligence analytics to monitor retail associate errors and customer retail transactions (purchases, refunds, and voids).

TID: March 2014

HR-MA-14-002 12/03/2013 Mail Isolation Control and Tracking

R-1 — Designate overall responsibility for the coordination of mail isolation, control, and tracking procedures throughout the 

Postal Service. TID: April 2014

R-2 — Revise and implement formal procedures for mail isolation, control, and tracking, to include specific procedures and 

controls for using mail image information. TID: April 2014

R-3 — Ensure that mail isolation, control, and tracking procedures are formally reviewed and updated annually based on lessons 

learned, new developments, and insights. TID: April 2014

DR-MA-14-001 12/11/2013 Delivery Operations – Readiness for Package Growth Management Advisory Report

R-1 — Continue to test and implement dynamic routing to manage increased package growth on delivery routes.

TID: December 2013

R-2 — Study package growth trends on delivery routes and modify cluster box unit package compartments as needed for 

additional delivery capacity. TID: None

R-3 — Use operational reports to proactively monitor and manage Carrier Package Pickup data to make adjustments as 

needed to improve operational efficiency. TID: None

R-4 — Implement a vehicle shelving system to accommodate package growth. TID: October 2014

DR-AR-14-001 12/13/2013 Rural Delivery Operations - Mail Count and timekeeping Processes

R-1 — Develop a strategy to fully automate the rural timekeeping process. TID: September 2014

SM-MA-14-002 12/18/2013 Procurement-Related Ethical Violations at Vehicle Maintenance Facilities

R-3 — Require vehicle maintenance facilities managers and supervisors involved with supplier selection or payment to 

complete annual ethics training focused on procurement and contracting practices. TID: April 2014

R-4 — Develop ethics training focused on procurement and contracting and make it available to vehicle maintenance facilities 

managers and supervisors involved with supplier selection or payment. TID: April 2014

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 31
Appendices Appendix E

Report Number Issued Date 

Report Title, Recommendation Summary

R = Recommendation number

TID = Target Implementation Date

NO-AR-14-001 12/20/2013 Internal Controls and Transportation Associated With the Springfield, MA Mail Transport Equipment Service Center

R-1 — Establish adequate controls over contractor performance and ensure adequate resources for the quality assurance 

function for effective oversight and monitoring of contractor operations at the Springfield Mail Transport Equipment 

Service Center, including processing, invoicing, repairing, and handling of mail transport equipment. TID: April 2014

R-2 — Ensure the contractor at the Springfield Mail Transport Equipment Service Center provides adequate security and access 

control to the ground and trailer parking areas, which includes access control of inbound and outbound trailers at all 

times. TID: March 2014

R-3 — Ensure area and plant management monitor compliance with the established policies and procedures for mail transport 

equipment return handling procedures at processing facilities, for dispatch and proper use of over-the-road containers 

and proper storage, handling, and maintenance of shoring straps. TID: January 2014

R-4 — Reinforce the requirement that processing facilities conduct thorough inspections of mail transport equipment being 

sent to the Springfield Mail Transport Equipment Service Center to ensure it does not contain any mail and ensure any 

found mail at the center is picked up daily for further processing. TID: January 2014

R-5 — Reassess mail transport equipment standing orders and transportation schedules for all processing facilities as 

necessary to ensure they are up-to-date and efficient given the operational changes and imbalance of mail transport 

equipment flow. TID: April 2014

HR-MA-14-003 01/27/2014 Security Risks in the Capital District

R-1 — Issue supplemental guidance clarifying roles and responsibilities for homeland security coordinators in assisting districts 

with anonymous mail follow-up testing and training. TID: October 2014

R-2 — Require responsible personnel to take anonymous mail training, including periodic refresher training, and incorporate 

simulations of the anonymous mail process. TID: February 2014

R-3 — Establish controls to ensure responsible personnel are held accountable for complying with anonymous mail 

requirements. TID: January 2014

R-4 — Implement anonymous mail program best practices used by the Nevada-Sierra District, including taking corrective 

actions for failed facilities. TID: March 2014

R-5 — Establish controls to ensure threat assessment team personnel complete the required workplace violence training, 

including periodic refresher training, to better understand their roles and responsibilities. TID: January 2014

R-6 — Establish controls to ensure responsible personnel complete the workplace violence self-audit tool annually, as required. 

TID: September 2014

R-7 — Establish controls to ensure the threat assessment team adheres to workplace violence policies and procedures. 

TID: January 2014

HR-MA-14-004 02/06/2014 Unscheduled Leave Activity in the Los Angeles District

R-1 — We recommend the manager, Los Angeles District: Develop and implement a clearly defined unscheduled leave activity 

review process for supervisors to follow that includes schedules for monitoring leave activity and employee discussions 

as it relates to unscheduled leave control. TID: February 2014

R-3 — We recommend the manager, Los Angeles District: Implement controls over Postal Service Forms 3971, Request for or 

Notification of Absence, to ensure proper completion and security. TID: February 2014

SM-AR-14-003 02/24/2014 Transportation Management Service Provider Shipping Process

R-1 — Develop and implement an alternative process to Freight Pro’s use of negative confirmation to ensure that all shipments 

are received and follow up on any exceptions identified. TID: July 2014

R-2 — Develop and implement detailed procedures to address the rate quote exceptions identified and pursue credits owed to 

the Postal Service. TID: July 2014

DR-AR-14-003 02/28/2014 Address Management System Data

R-1 — Revise and implement delivery policy to include specific time requirements for carrier edit book updates, submissions to 

delivery supervisors, and error corrections in address systems. TID: October 2014

R-2 — Develop and implement a formal Address Management System training program. TID: January 2014

R-3 — Develop and incorporate an Address Management System module in the delivery supervisor’s training course. 

TID: September 2014

R-4 — Establish and sustain a follow-up process to correct address errors using the Address Quality Improvement Process 

reports and complete necessary street reviews. TID: October 2014

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 32
Appendices Appendix E

Report Number Issued Date 

Report Title, Recommendation Summary

R = Recommendation number

TID = Target Implementation Date

DR-AR-14-004 03/04/2014 City Delivery Efficiency – South Florida District

R-1 — Implement efforts to eliminate 374,982 workhours at the delivery units cited. TID: None

R-2 — Reinforce and ensure adherence to Postal Service policies and procedures for supervising city delivery operations at 

delivery units. TID: June 2014

R-3 — Eliminate inefficient carrier practices, such as carriers waiting in line for accountable mail, excessive talking on cell 

phones during mail sorting, and visits to personal vehicles. TID: March 2014

R-4 — Increase mail arrival efficiency by preparing integrated operating plans with facility processing managers. 

TID: September 2014

R-5 — Use the Integrated Operating Plan Discrepancy Report System to monitor compliance and identify and correct systemic 

issues. TID: April 2014

R-6 — Ensure delivery point sequence mail arrives timely and in route order for easy retrieval by carriers. TID: April 2014

DP-AR-14-001 03/07/2014 U.S. Postal Service’s Delivering Results, Value, and Efficiency Initiative 6, Improve Employee Availability

R-1 — Establish and implement a process to ensure that Delivering Results, Innovation, Value, and Efficiency project 

management roles, are clearly identified and not performed by the initiative lead and roadmap owner. TID: None

R-2 — Evaluate implementing regular audits and controls for each project at the project management level. TID: None

DP-AR-14-002 03/07/2014 Postal Service Knowledge Management Process

R-1 — Develop a comprehensive Postal Service knowledge management (KM) strategy and associated policies and 

procedures, including appointing a chief knowledge officer. This process should include and build on current Postal 

Service KM practices and the appropriate best practices identified in this report. TID: None

R-2 — Join the Federal Knowledge Management Working Group, an organization that has experts to assist, inform, and 

support the development and implementation of a comprehensive knowledge management strategy. TID: June 2014

DR-AR-14-005 03/26/2014 Vehicle Parts Inventory Management-Capping

R-1 — Re-emphasize stockroom management policies and procedures on physical security and inventory management, 

including conducting mandatory inventories at vehicle maintenance facilities. TID: April 2014

R-2 — Implement training for stockroom personnel on security and inventory procedures and processes. TID: June 2014

R-3 — Re-emphasize stockroom management policies and procedures on purchasing and receiving duties. TID: May 2014

IT-AR-14-003 03/26/2014 Fiscal Year 2013 Information Technology Internal Controls

R-1 — Reiterate to Surface-Air Management System administrators to follow control policies in managing critical jobs and 

script versions. TID: June 2014

R-2 — Implement a job scheduling procedure for the Surface-Air Management System that documents critical jobs. 

TID: June 2014

R-3 — Direct the Information Technology Compliance Management Office to require Postal Service internal reviewers to use the 

Control-M/Enterprise Manager tool to directly obtain evidence of password settings. TID: June 2014

IT-AR-14-004 03/27/2014 Information Storage Security

R-1 — Ensure Data Management Services management provides security operating procedures, periodic reviews, and 

oversight for the storage teams as required by Handbook AS-805, Information Security. TID: September 2014

R-2 — Ensure the vendor for the storage contract provides periodic training to personnel to maintain storage group knowledge 

and skills with vendor products and management tools. TID: April 2014

R-3 — Evaluate the storage environment managed by Data Management Services against Handbook AS-805, Information 

Security, security requirements and develop a schedule to bring the environment into compliance. TID: June 2014

R-4 — Establish minimum security requirements for storage devices in Postal Service environments based on industry best 

practices. TID: September 2014

DR-MA-14-003 03/31/2014 Readiness for Package Growth – Customer Service Operations 

R-1 — Direct Customer Service Operations employees to perform acceptance scans on all barcoded packages as required.

TID: October 2014

R-2 — Enable the Passive Adaptive Scanning System’s revenue protection function, and document and communicate 

procedure changes to employees. TID: October 2014

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 33
Appendices Appendix F and Appendix G

Appendix F 

Significant Management Decisions in 

Audit Resolution 

For the period October 01, 2013 - March 31, 2014 

As required by the IG Act, the following discusses information concerning any significant management decision with which the Inspector 

General disagrees and is currently in audit resolution.

Appendix G

Status of Peer Review Recommendations

Federal audit organizations undergo an external quality control assessment by their peers every 3 years. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform 

and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 requires an appendix reporting on 1) any Office of Inspector General peer reviews conducted during the 

semiannual period; and 2) any outstanding recommendations from any previous or current peer reviews that remain outstanding or have not 

been fully implemented.

Office of Audit

Internal Peer Reviews

None conducted during this period. 

External Peer Reviews

None conducted during this period.

No Recommendations Found.

Office of Investigations

Internal Peer Reviews

None conducted during this period. 

External Peer Reviews

None conducted during this period.

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 34
Appendices Appendix H

Investigations 

Closed Arrests

Indictments/ 

Information Convictions**

Admin 

Action Taken 

Cost 

Avoidance

Fines / Restitution, 

and Recoveries Amount to USPS*** 

To Mgmt. for 

Admin Action

Contract Fraud 96 9 5 7 66 $75,366,586 $69,277,543 $2,685,625 34

Financial Fraud 194 70 51 79 200 $1,206,375 $1,733,512 $1,712,000 155

General Crimes 315 31 11 32 248 — $607,933 $169,660 170

Healthcare Fraud 447 38 46 37 81 $168,945,990 $48,541,151 $10,589,100 93

Internal Mail Theft 646 175 112 211 493 — $1,776,661 $100,969 407

Total 1,698 323 225 366 1,088 $245,518,951 $121,936,800 $15,257,354 859

* Statistics include joint investigations with other law enforcement agencies.

** Convictions reported in this period may be related to arrests in prior reporting periods.

*** Amounts include case results of joint investigations with other OIG, federal, state, and local law enforcement entities.

Appendix H

Investigative Statistics*

For the period October 1, 2013— March 31, 2014

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 35
Appendices Appendix I

Appendix I

Summary of U.S. Postal Inspection Service Actions Under 39 USC § 3005 and 3007

For the period October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014

Administrative Subpoenas Requested by the Postal Inspection Service

There was one request during the reporting period.

Type of Scheme

Complaints 

Filed

Consent 

Agreements FROs

Cease & 

Desist Orders

Advanced Fee — — — —

Charity — — — —

Counterfeit Financial Instruments 6 6 — 5

Coupon/Rebate Fraud 1 1 — 1

False Billings 2 3 2 4

Fraudulent Postage 7 13 — 7

Identity Theft — — — —

Medical Product Fraud — — — —

Merchandise: Failure to Furnish 2 2 — 2

Merchandise: Failure to Pay 3 — 1 —

Misrepresentation — — — —

Other — — — —

Reshipping Scheme 31 27 — 28

Sweepstakes/Lottery 57 56 3 58

Work at Home 5 6 — 4

TOTAL 114 114 6 109

Financial Reporting on Investigative 

Activities for the Postal Inspection Service 

Type

Total Personnel Comp $171,374,578

Total Nonpersonnel Expense $34,677,708

Total Operating Expense $206,052,286

Total Capital Commitments $1,022,596

Other Administrative Actions

Administrative Action Requests 114

Temp. Restraining Orders Requested —

Temp. Restraining Orders Issued —

Cases Using Direct Purchase Authority —

Civil Penalties (Section 3012) Imposed —

Test Purchases —

Withholding Mail Orders issued 8

Voluntary Discontinuances —

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 36
Appendices Appendix J

Appendix J

All Closed Congressional/ PMG/BOG Inquires

For the period October 1, 2013— March 31, 2014

This appendix lists the congressional, Postmaster General, and Board of Governors inquiries the OIG closed during this reporting period. OIG units reviewed or 

investigated these inquiries to resolve allegations and disputes, and to help identify systemic issues. Inquires are listed in the chronological order of receipt.

Inspector General Investigations (53)

Requestor Allegation/ Concern Major Findings Closure Date

Foreign Consulate General Nondelivery of 16 mail pieces containing visas and passports delivered to the 

Consulate General on a single day in 2012

OIG investigators had no access to consular personnel who witnessed this 

delivery. We learned incidents of missing mail were well known within the 

postal delivery unit on days the receptionist signed for the mail. We are 

not aware of complaints about compromised personal information. We 

noted postal employees deviated from delivery procedures for handling 

items requiring verification and physical count; neither the letter carrier 

nor consular personnel verified and counted the items. We reported our 

findings to postal management for action deemed appropriate.

10/30/13

Senator, Nevada Inquiry regarding the closure of a Contract Post Office Our investigation found numerous violations of postal policy and law, 

commonly referred to as money order kiting. We reported our findings to 

postal management for their consideration. Because of the nature of our 

findings, we were required also to present them to the U.S. Attorney. That 

office served a Central Violations Bureau ticket on the former contract post 

office operator for violation of a federal law.

11/01/13

Representative, Nevada Requesting information regarding the status of a Post Office after an investigation Our investigation found numerous violations of postal policy and law, 

commonly referred to as money order kiting. We reported our findings to 

postal management for their consideration. Because of the nature of our 

findings, we were required also to present them to the U.S. Attorney. That 

office served a Central Violations Bureau ticket on the former contract post 

office operator for violation of a federal law. 

11/01/13

Senator, Nevada A former Postal Service employee requested an update on pending payments 

charges against her

Our investigation found numerous violations of postal policy and law, 

commonly referred to as money order kiting. During a three-and-a-half 

month period, 73 Postal Service money orders were issued. Of these, 

approximately 45 were deposited into a Bank of First Deposit on or 

before the date the employee reported them sold. The employee’s name 

appeared on 48 of the 73 money orders. In four cases, the deposit 

occurred 17 or more days before they were reported sold. We reported 

our findings to postal management for their consideration. Because of 

the nature of our findings, we were required also to present them to the 

U.S. Attorney. That office served a Central Violations Bureau ticket on the 

former contract post office operator for violation of a federal law.

11/01/13

Representative, New York Management instructed carriers to falsify Express parcel delivery time scans; 

denied the complainant her right to participate in the Leave-Buy-Back Process; and 

created a hostile work environment

Mail integrity tests twice found Express parcels scanned as delivered while 

the parcels were still at the station. These instances involved a single letter 

carrier. Management claimed to be unaware of the situation. More than 

one interviewee corroborated the constituent’s claim of false scanning 

practices. We forwarded our findings to District management. The issue 

regarding Leave Buy-Back is technical in nature and was forwarded to 

Postal Service personnel. Our interviews confirmed tension between 

the complainant and postal management, but we did not establish that 

a hostile work environment existed. We did not confirm tension led to 

unfounded personnel actions.

02/26/14

Senator, Maryland Theft of care packages to military addresses, routine misdelivery of mail, 

nondelivery, and tampering by postal employees 

Regarding the routine misdeliveries, we found fading address labels on 

the delivery cluster box to be the likely cause. We could not determine 

the location of the missing military addressed packages. As to the 

non-delivered package, scan information indicated it was scanned as 

delivered while inside a postal facility, which would violate postal policy. 

Our investigative efforts did not substantiate theft by postal personnel. In 

response to our findings, management conducted a stand-up talk with 

employees about professional behavior.

11/25/13

Senator, Tennessee Theft of mail containing cash and gift cards sent to a Georgia address We were unable to confirm the loss. The constituent previously claimed 

theft of a missing gift card, but without any identifying information, we 

could not conduct a full investigation. We checked our databases and did 

not identify a significant number of complaints at the point of origin or at 

the destination to suggest a pattern. We ran four mail integrity tests and all 

pieces arrived in tact.

01/07/14

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 37
Appendices Appendix J

Requestor Allegation/ Concern Major Findings Closure Date

Representative, New York Tampering and nonreceipt of mail We found that a medical office and a gift card reseller intentionally used tape to 

seal envelopes they mailed. Investigators observed an instance of an unsealed letter 

awaiting delivery, but could find no indications of tampering nor explanation for the 

unsealed condition. We ran mail integrity tests, and all test pieces arrived in tact. 

Neither the tests nor database reviews produced investigative leads nor means for 

accounting for the problem.

Senator, Illinois Theft of five parcels from two different locations, containing cash, 

credit card, and check donations

We conducted a lengthy investigation, including interviews, reviews of postal records 

and databases, surveillance, and mail integrity tests. Despite these efforts, we could 

not substantiate the loss. We found no evidence of theft nor that the package broke 

apart at the plant, and observed that mail handlers at the likely point of loss were 

familiar with and complied with postal policies.

12/19/13

Senator, Maryland Theft of mail containing gift cards worth $400 We conducted an investigation, including database reviews, interviews, mail integrity 

tests, and an examination of the refiled mail pieces. The retailer reviewed its systems 

and determined that prior to and after the cards were deactivated, there was no record 

of attempted use for the cards. The investigation produced no leads or means of 

accounting for the loss.

10/23/13

Representative, New York Nondelivery of passports sent using Registered Mail with Signature 

Confirmation and scanned as “out for delivery”

We conducted an investigation, including interviews, reviews of postal and criminal 

databases, and cooperation with the U.S. Department of State. The addressee was no 

longer in operation. We identified sources who had knowledge of operations there. We 

learned passports were not always secured; offices were not alarmed; and access was 

not strictly controlled. We also learned that State Department investigators were aware 

of passport losses associated with this organization. However, our work did not find 

records of the package or leads to allow us to investigate further. 

01/17/14

Representative, California Falsely scanned packages as “Notice left (business closed)” at a 

business address in Florida, and packages not scanned at all 

Regarding a package complainant sent that was scanned in Florida as “notice left, 

business closed,” local Post Office management readily confirmed the routine entry 

of scans on packages indicating a business is closed when they could not know that 

for a fact. Management defended the practice. Since this practice does not conform 

to postal policy, we notified district management for appropriate action and also 

copied our Office of Audit for consideration of management’s ideas on improving 

the scan notifications. Regarding the complainant’s package that received no scan, 

the allegation is unfounded. All information was record in the postal Track & Confirm 

database.

10/30/13

Representative, New 

Jersey

Theft of Certified Mail containing cash sent to Florida We conducted an investigation, including review of databases, interviews, and mail 

integrity tests. We did not identify any patterns in the postal zone nor any evidence of 

employee misconduct. Neither postal personnel, data, and our searches could establish 

the whereabouts of the missing letter. 

11/19/13

Senator, New Hampshire Intentional delay and theft of credit card statements, bills, and mail by 

local postal employees

We conducted an investigation including database searches and interviews. We could 

not confirm the reported losses or any intentional delay or theft of mail.

11/01/13

Representative, Ohio Nonreceipt of packages containing controlled, prescription medications 

from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

We conducted an investigation, including interviews, integrity testing, and reviews 

of postal databases. The complaint led to similar reports of intermittent missing VA 

shipments in the area. The investigation confirmed there is a problem, but did not lead 

to a suspect or other explanation for the loss.

01/07/14

Senator, Florida Threats and drug possession and sales by another postal employee, 

and administrative issues

The complainant discounted or recanted his allegations. Independent of our interview 

with him, we found no evidence of criminal or administrative wrongdoing.

10/24/13

Representative, 

Pennsylvania

Package a seller sent to a third party arrived damaged; the Postal 

Service denied the insurance claim

The third party placed the damaged mail into our custody. Our agents observed the 

damage and guided the claim, which was adjudicated favorably. The investigation 

discovered no employee misconduct, nor criminal behavior.

11/25/13

Representative, Texas Employee mistakenly sought a reward for providing information to the 

Postal Inspection Service but OIG actually conducted investigation

Our investigation found no documentation or evidence that the constituent assisted 

any postal agency by providing information for the investigation in question. The OIG 

offers rewards only under extremely restricted circumstances involving undercover 

operations, usually including substantial risk. OIG rewards to postal employees are 

limited because of their duties to report misconduct. We are grateful for all contacts 

we receive each year, many from employees, that assist us in our mission to detect 

employee misconduct.

12/12/13

Representative, California Theft of coupons and problems with the local customer service We did not find evidence that postal personnel had improperly tampered with 

complainant’s mail, but personnel compounded the problem by attempting to replace 

her mail with a set of undeliverable coupons found at the Post Office. We heard from 

the constituent that recent delivery experiences improved. We tested customer service 

phone system operations and believe phone problems were resolved.

10/23/13

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 38
Appendices Appendix J

Requestor Allegation/ Concern Major Findings Closure Date

State Representative, 

Massachusetts

Nondelivery of political mail We determined 2,170 of about 8,000 letters were returned to the sender and labeled 

as undeliverable. A substantial portion of those were not canceled, suggesting they had 

not been sent through a mail processing machine. Management concluded the mail 

was mishandled at the Incoming Mail Center by being placed with mail to be sent to 

the Central Forwarding System. It should have been sent to a General Mail Facility. Our 

investigation did not determine why the mishandling occurred.

Representative, Missouri Nondelivery or theft of multiple bill payments, refusal by letter carrier to 

pick up outgoing mail, and poor service by the local post office

We did not substantiate the allegation of nondelivery or theft of bill payments.

We also ran mail integrity tests and reviewed postal databases looking for similarities. 

We identified no significant issues in the delivery area. We learned the stoppage of mail 

pick-up was not authorized, and management corrected it. In regards to poor service, 

information from databases and surveys did not support the claim.

01/07/14

Representative, Georgia Delay and theft of cash and heavy industrial materials from a package We reviewed tracking information for the path the package traveled. We contacted four 

processing and distribution plants as well as the Mail Recovery Center. We launched mail 

integrity tests in an attempt to narrow down the location of the loss. However, neither 

the missing items nor any additional information regarding their whereabouts were 

discovered.

02/27/14

Representative, California Misdelivered mail, customer service issues, and mail tampering We conducted an investigation but our mail integrity tests were generally successful and 

database searches did not yield similar complaints in the area. We found no information or 

evidence to support the claim that named or unnamed postal

employees had tampered with the mail or behaved inappropriately when delivered.

The complainant has since reported increased satisfaction with her service. 

11/15/13

Representative, California Nonreceipt of a parcel after being notified it was ready for pick-up We conducted an investigation, including interviews, integrity tests, and reviews of postal 

and UPS databases. We concluded that the address on the UPS parcel omitted the PO 

Box number. In such situations, postal employees must return packages to UPS, but 

neither the Postal Service nor UPS had documentation of that occurring, or how else the 

package might have been lost. We found no indications of improper handling of packages.

12/19/13

Representative, Ohio Nonreceipt of mail containing checks valued up to $1 million We conducted an investigation, including mail integrity tests, interviews, and database 

reviews. We could not identify the cause of the delay or the sudden appearance of a 

bundle of checks postmarked from a month earlier. We provided information to our Office 

of Audit for possible systemic review.

10/23/13

Senator, Nevada Workhours were cut back because of employee’s disabled veteran 

status

We determined that management disallowed his light duty job offer after not completing 

his light duty assignment within established timeframes. The matter was resolved through 

the grievance process, including a settlement for back pay. A doctor later cleared him to 

return to work. Complainant rescinded the allegation of being targeted because of the 

disabled veteran status.

11/19/13

Board of Governors Nondelivery of mail We conducted an investigation, including mail integrity tests, interviews, and a review 

of databases. The complainant refused to participate in an interview. We performed 

three successful mail integrity tests. We found no evidence of intentional nondelivery or 

misconduct by a postal employee.

11/08/13

Representative, Maryland Theft of $900 cash sent through the mail We found the delivery location uses a “drop house” system, where a front desk worker 

accepts the mail, sorts it, and places it in mailboxes, which sit behind the front desk. The 

staff does not secure the mail and does not monitor the area with security cameras. When 

delivered to an employee, mail leaves the custody of the Postal Service and the jurisdiction 

of our agency. We found no evidence of misconduct by postal employees and no pattern 

of similar allegations in postal databases.

03/21/14

Senator, Maine Wrongful termination and demand for back pay During a background investigation of new employees, the complainant’s open felony 

arrest warrant in another state came to light. We assisted him in contacting authorities, 

who eventually provided information for his use in a grievance action to maintain his 

job.Through the grievance process, he was ordered to be returned to work.

12/16/13

Representative, North 

Carolina

Nonreceipt and theft of prescription medication sent through the mail We conducted an investigation, including interviews and reviews of postal databases. The 

investigation did not find evidence of theft by a postal employee nor any similar complaints 

in the postal area. We later learned that the supplier replaced the lost medication.

01/17/14

Representative, Nevada Theft of a package containing a watch We determined a letter carrier did not follow mail delivery procedures and falsified records 

for the missing parcel. Likely the item was improperly delivered to another address and 

delivery initials from another address entered into the file. We found no leads that would 

allow us to trace the watch or a pattern of similar events in the area, and reported the 

findings to management for action deemed appropriate.

11/19/13

Representative, Arkansas OIG employees accessed investigative resources to obtain text 

messages for unofficial matters

We conducted an internal investigation. Our forensic examination produced no evidence 

the subjects used subpoenas, phone or database search tools to improperly access data.

02/28/14

Representative, Missouri Customer complaint that letter carriers were opening and retaping mail Postal databases and mail integrity tests yielded no leads. Local postal management did 

not suspect employees were opening mail and processing or irregularities in other mail 

may have been the cause. 

02/26/14

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 39
Appendices Appendix J

Requestor Allegation/ Concern Major Findings Closure Date

Senator, Delaware Harassment and hostile work environment We initiated a workplace climate review. We conducted interviews, performed 

postal database searches, and reviewed documents. We documented that district 

management was aware of concerns and responded promptly. Management promptly 

initiated a formal workplace climate review and site visit in early 2013. The OIG review 

did not support the claims of harassment or a hostile work environment.

02/10/14

Representative, Mississippi Parcel arrived with an outer seal broken The complainant refused to be interviewed. Without her cooperation, we attempted to 

gain other leads by reviewing tracking information and looking for similar complaints in 

the area. We found no other leads to continue the investigation.

02/26/14

Representative, Kentucky Misdelivery and non-receipt of mail, especially bills Complainant reported no recent problems, and our mail integrity tests revealed no 

weaknesses. Database searches revealed no patterns of delivery issues demanding 

investigative attention.

01/07/14

Representative, California Workplace retaliation from a whistleblower complaint and agent 

misconduct during the investigation

Complainant provided no evidence of a protected communication, as required for 

a finding of whistleblower retaliation. Information from postal files and interviews 

indicated a basis for management deciding to discipline the complainant. The 

misconduct matter is a personnel matter, to be reviewed through field office processes.

12/18/13

Representative, Florida Willful delay of mail by a mail carrier We found a basis in postal rules for the steps they took in suspending mail delivery. 

We documented a verbal altercation that occurred at the residence was a proper basis 

for suspension, i.e., suspending delivery in the face of an immediate perceived threat, 

including threats from animals.

12/12/13

Senator, Maryland A postal employee, receiving workers’ compensation benefits, alleged 

being prevented from returning to work after receiving a doctor’s 

approval

An on-going investigation revealed the complainant made false statements and 

misrepresentations to medical providers and Department of Labor Office of Workers’ 

Compensation Programs. Postal management delayed responding to the request to 

returning to work because of the ongoing investigation. We arrested the claimant for 

False Statements to Obtain Federal Employee’s Compensation, False Statements, and 

Aiding and Abetting.

02/04/14

Representative, Nevada Theft of dimes sent in envelopes An interview with the March of Dimes did not reveal pattern of complaints that would 

warrant further investigation, and the organization declined mail integrity tests. 

Processing and Distribution Center management was aware of situations where 

envelopes containing coins have been damaged in processing at the plant in the 

past. Management did not think theft was likely in this case and was not aware of any 

suspicious employee behavior that would warrant further investigation.

01/31/14

Representative, 

Pennsylvania

Theft of a package containing silver, valued at $2,500. Well before we received the inquiry, local postal managers had already conducted their 

own investigation into the matter and had taken disciplinary steps.

11/19/13

Representative, Missouri Nondelivery and issues regarding insurance Management provided inconsistent assertions of delivery to an apartment mailbox. We 

searched postal databases and conducted interviews and mail integrity tests. These 

efforts yielded no leads, and the Postal Service paid the constituent’s insurance claim.

02/10/14

Chairman, House 

Committee 

Review of a whistleblower complaint The OIG conducted an investigation into a valid, unrelated charge involving travel card 

irregularities. We forwarded our findings to management for possible disciplinary action.

11/01/13

Representative, Minnesota Nondelivery of a check mailed to Australia resulted in a $6,000 loss 

from decline in exchange rates

The investigation determined the Postal Service lost the constituent’s International 

Registered Mail piece. Postal searches of numerous locations tracking databases did 

not locate the item. Postal personnel could not explain data showing an item bearing 

the same number as dispatched to Vienna, Austria, 5 months later. We documented 

the International Claims Processing Office did not promptly assist the complainant.

03/21/14

Representative, New 

Jersey

Missing prescription medications scanned as delivered during a Mail 

Hold

We confirmed the package was delivered during the Mail Hold. A substitute carrier was 

not informed of the Mail Hold and left the package on the front porch. We could not 

establish when or how the parcel disappeared from the porch. 

03/21/14

Representative, New York Theft of scrap gold worth approximately $18,000, and issues with 

associated insurance claim

We did not substantiate employee misconduct. We could not determine where the 

loss occurred, due in part to the passage of time and how the loss was reported. We 

noted the recipient did not promptly process the package, waited three weeks to report 

the gold was missing, and did not retain packaging that would have been of use to 

investigators. The OIG does not review insurance matters.

03/21/14

Senator, Maryland Non-receipt, damage, and inexplicable “return to sender” processing 

of several pieces of mail

We learned a carrier may have mistakenly thought the residence was one of several 

vacant addresses with no forwarding address. 

03/05/14

Senator, Maryland Theft of package contents and failure of the online mail hold system to 

record requests

Our investigation did not find evidence of mail theft by a postal employee, but the mail 

was labeled as damaged. Contents of damaged mail sometimes are forwarded to Mail 

Recovery Centers (MRC). Because of the length of time passed, the MRC would no 

longer have any contents that might have been forwarded. We determined the cause 

for failure to hold the online mail request was human error, not a larger problem with 

the electronic system. Local postal personnel were required to retrieve hold requests 

from a database and, for some undetermined period of time, failed to do so.

02/10/14

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 40
Appendices Appendix J

Requestor Allegation/ Concern Major Findings Closure Date

Senator, Maryland Non-receipt, damage, and inexplicable “return to sender” processing 

of several pieces of mail

We learned a carrier may have mistakenly thought the residence was one of several vacant 

addresses with no forwarding address.

03/05/14

Representative, Michigan An OIG agent improperly interfered with a former employee’s attempts 

to be rehired

We found no evidence to substantiate the claims of misconduct or interference by the OIG 

agent.

03/21/14

Representative, New York Status report on a whistleblower complaint, followed by a request to 

withdraw the employee’s complaint

We closed our investigative work, noting the issues had been the subject of mediation. 02/03/14

Representative, Florida Manipulation of mail tracking system to commit theft Postal data indicate the package was undeliverable as addressed and contents were all 

returned to sender. We did not find employee misconduct.

03/21/14

Representative, Texas Employee unfairly placed on administrative leave for misconduct The OIG is following its internal procedures and regulations for handling disciplinary action. 

Employee is on paid administrative leave pending a decision and is represented by counsel.

02/10/14

Inspector General Audit Reports (5)

Requestor Allegation/Concern Major Findings/Resolution Closure Date

Senator, Indiana Constituents question the propriety of the Postal Service contract with 

CB Richard Ellis

The Office of Audit announced a survey to assess the Postal Service’s internal controls over its 

transactions with CB Richard Ellis. The audit noted concerns regarding contract structure and 

oversight.

12/27/13

Ranking Members, Senate 

Committees

Periodic request for information on non-public, investigated cases We presented information covering FY 13. 01/15/14

Chair, Senate Committee Requested an information on service standards and plant 

consolidations

We provided information on a final rule issued in January 2014 and a list of consolidations 

made in 2013.

02/12/14

Chairman, House 

Subcommittee

Testimony Request for the hearing, “Alaska Bypass: A Broken System” We provided the requested testimony. 03/04/14

Representative, Maine Safety of Postal Service vehicles in inclement weather We declined to conduct formal audit; we noted design and record of the Long Life Vehicles 

(LLVs), operating for the last 25 years, concluding this did not concern a system-wide complaint.

03/20/14

Risk Analysis Research Center Reports (2)

Requestor Allegation/Concern Major Findings/Resolution Closure Date

Chairman, Senate 

Committee

Requested responses for the committee hearing on “Outside the Box: 

Reforming and Renewing the Postal Service, Part 1 - Maintaining 

Services, Reducing Costs, and Increasing Revenue through Innovation 

and Modernization.”

We provided the requested responses. 11/22/13

Ranking Member, Senate 

Committee

Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs requests a 

continuation of a detail assignment.

We agreed to an extension. 02/25/14

General Counsel and Support Functions (3)

Requestor Allegation/Concern Major Findings/Resolution Closure Date

Representative, 

Massachusetts

A manager’s alleged threat caused post-traumatic stress disorder, 

leading to complainant’s retirement. Complainant alleged the manager 

engaged in official misconduct by covering up information.

We closed our original investigation in 2010. Our investigation earlier in 2013 did not uncover 

additional information or reveal additional evidence warranting further investigation then or now. 

As a courtesy, we included a copy of the report of investigation for the constituent’s original 

case.

02/21/14

Senator, Florida Request for removal of excisions from previous correspondence 

released from the OIG FOIA office.

As the complainant had the statutory right to appeal FOIA determinations, we forwarded his 

correspondence to the OIG FOIA Appeals unit for processing. As to workplace allegations, 

complainant’s retirement and the absence of similar complaints led to the Office of 

Investigations declination of additional investigative work.

12/13/13

Senator, South Dakota Verbal abuse and inattention to service with possible racial motivation We did not find a nexus to areas of OIG jurisdiction and opined that such issues are best 

handled by Postal Service management, as management attempted to do so earlier in 2013. By 

management’s account, the constituent refused to talk to them about the issue.

12/24/13

Referrals (3)

Requestor Allegation/Concern Major Findings/Resolution Closure Date

Representative, Missouri Unjust termination of a postal employee Referred to U.S. Postal Service 02/19/14

Senator, New York Withheld wages by a postal contractor The allegations fell solely under the jurisdiction of the Department of Labor 02/26/14

Senator, Ohio Mail tampering by the constituent’s neighbors Referred to U.S. Postal Inspection Service 02/20/14

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 41
Appendices Supplemental Information

Requests Number of Requests

Carryover from prior period 21

Received during period 266

Total on hand during period 287

Actions Number of Requests

Processed during the period 257

Requests denied in full 13

Requests granted in full 10

Requests denied in part 114

No records 50

Requests referred 10

Requests withdrawn 13

Fee-related reasons —

Records not reasonably described —

Not a proper FOIA request for some other reason 7

Not an agency record 40

Duplicate request —

Balance Number of Requests

Balance at the end of the period (pending) 30

Processing Days Number of Days

Median processing days to respond to a FOIA request 8

Supplemental Information

Freedom of Information Act

The OIG Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Office operates independently of, but frequently coordinates with, its counterparts at the Postal Service and the Postal 

Inspection Service. The FOIA Office receives requests for records from the public, the media, and postal employees. The FOIA, according to the Department of 

Justice, “generally provides that any person has a right, enforceable in court, to obtain access to federal agency records, except to the extent that such records 

(or portions of them) are protected from public disclosure by one of nine exemptions.”

Activities

For the period October 1, 2013, to March 31, 2014

Workplace Environment

The OI Workplace Environment unit reviews workplace environment and operational 

issues that may affect workplace climate in postal facilities through the country. The OIG 

Hotline is the usual source for the complaints, but occasionally members of Congress, 

the Governors, and postal management will raise concerns or forward complaints 

appropriate for review by the unit. Complaint topics range from sexual harassment and 

discrimination to workplace safety. Workplace Environment reviews are designed to 

identify systemic, rather than individual, issues and foster postal management efforts 

toward providing employees a stress- and adversity-free work environment.

The unit accepts complaints from any postal employee, including OIG and Postal 

Inspection Service staff. Reviews may result in fact-finding reports to management or 

referral for specific suggested action, such as climate assessments. 

Complaints Received Total

Carried over from previous quarter(s) 20

Complaints received from OIG Hotline, Congress, Governors, management, 

internal, and other

358

Total on hand during this period 378

Workplace Environment Actions Total

Complaints reviewed and closed during the period 368

Referred to Postal Inspection Service 1

Referred to Office of Audit 0

Referred to Office of Investigations 1

Referred to Workplace Environment 43

Referred to Hotline 1

Referred to Summary of findings to Congress/BOG/Postal Service 

Management

104

Referred to FOIA 0

Referred to AIG for Investigations 0

Referred to Database for statistical analysis and possible systemic review 218

Activities

For the period October 1, 2013 - March 31, 2014

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 42
Acronym Guide

APPS: Automated Package Processing System

APWU: American Postal Workers Union

C&A: certification and accreditation

CSRS: Civil Service Retirement System

CSS: customer service supervisor

DBCS: Delivery Barcode Sorter

DOL: U.S. Department of Labor

DEA: Drug Enforcement Administration

DWC: distribution window clerk

eCBM: Electronic Conditional Based Maintenance

EDDI: Electronic Data Distribution Infrastructure

EDI: Electronic Data Interchange

EIR: Enterprise Information Repository

FEGLI: Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance

FEHB: Federal Employees Health Benefits

FSS: Flats Sequencing System

GMU: George Mason University

HCR: highway contract route

LLV: long-life vehicles

MTE: mail transport equipment

NALC: National Association of Letter Carriers

NCSC: National Customer Support Center

NDC: network distribution center

NPV: net present value

OA: Office of Audit

OI: Office of Investigations

OWCP: Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs

P&DC: processing and distribution center 

P&DF: processing and distribution facility

PAEA: Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 

2006 (also known as the Postal Act of 2006)

PKI: Public Key Infrastructure

PRC: Postal Regulatory Commission

PVS: Postal Vehicle Services

RARC: Risk Analysis Research Center

SBOC: Stations and Branches Optimization Consolidation

SSA: sales and services associate

TACS: Time and Attendance Collection System

VMF: Vehicle Maintenance Facility

Here is a quick guide to acronyms used 

in this reporting period.

© 2014. USPS. All Rights Reserved. The following are among the many trademarks owned by the United States Postal Service: United States Postal Service®, United States Postal Service® with Eagle Design, U.S. Postal Service®, USPS®, FirstClass Mail®, USPS.com®, Click-N-Ship®, Automated Postal Center®, APC®, Express Mail®, Priority Mail Express®, Priority Mail®, Standard Mail®, Parcel Post®, Media Mail®, Customized MarketMail®, Intelligent Mail®, Parcel Select®, Express 

Mail International®, Priority Mail Express International®, Quick, Easy, Convenient®, United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General® with Eagle Design, Post OfficeTM, Postal ServiceTM, Signature ConfirmationTM, Certified Mail®, Delivery 

ConfirmationTM, Registered MailTM, ZIP CodeTM, Priority Mail International®, First-Class Mail International®, Premium Forwarding Service®, Forever®, gopost®, Priority Mail Flat Rate®, DMM®, PostalOne!®, USPS Delivery Confirmation®, Approved 

by the Postmaster General®, and Postmaster GeneralTM.

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 43
The U.S. Postal Service has two law enforcement agencies with distinct areas of investigative 

responsibility to serve the needs of stakeholders, postal employees, and the American public.

•	Theft, delay, or destruction of mail

by employees and contractors

•	Workers’ compensation fraud

•	Embezzlements and financial crimes

•	Contract fraud

•	Kickbacks

•	Computer crimes

•	Narcotics

•	Employee misconduct

•	Internal affairs and executive investigations

•	Whistleblower reprisals

Office of Inspector General

Contact: 888-877-7644

www.uspsoig.gov

•	Security of employees, facilities, and equipment

•	Revenue and postage fraud

•	International mail security

•	Violent crimes:

- Threats and assaults of employees

- Burglaries and robberies

•	Mail theft by nonemployees

•	Dangerous mail and bombs

•	Mail fraud

•	Identity theft

•	Narcotics in the mail

•	Child pornography and obscenity

Contact: 877-876-2455

http://postalinspectors.uspis.gov

Postal Inspection Service

Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014 44
Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014

Contact us via our Hotline and FOIA forms, follow us on social networks, or 

call our Hotline at 1-888-877-7644 to report fraud, waste or abuse. 

Stay informed.

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Arlington, VA 22209

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