U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL

INSPECTIONS DIVISION

 

USE OF THE VISA PURCHASE CARD IN THE

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

 

September 1997

Report Number I-97-09

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Transmittal Memorandums

EXECUTIVE DIGEST

The Department's Components Have Not Used the VISA Card to the Extent Possible

VISA Program Growth in the Department

Figure 1 - VISA Program Growth in the Department

Distribution of Cards

VISA Card Distribution Among Headquarters and Field Offices in OIG Random Sample

Figure 2 - Percent of Cardholders Located in Headquarters (HQS) and Field Offices

Figure 3 - Percent of Cardholders Holding Procurement and Non-Procurement Positions

Restrictions on VISA Card Use

Conclusion

Recommendations

Components' Resistance to VISA Card Use Has Been Difficult to Overcome

JMD Efforts to Increase VISA Card Use

Department Goals to Increase VISA Card Use

Why Components Are Not Using the VISA Cards

Centralized Procurement Authority

Alternative Procurement and Payment Methods

Fear of Misuse

Conclusion

Recommendation

Internal Controls Are Sufficient but Components' Program Administration Can Be Improved

GSA's Program Controls

Purchase Limits

Merchant Activity Codes

Key Personnel

The OIG Random Sample

Components' Program Controls

Agency Program Coordinators

Approving Officials

Preapprovals Required

Cardholder Qualifications

Training

Written Delegations of Authority

The OIG Random Sample

Cardholder Responsibilities

The OIG Random Sample

Conclusion

Components' Procedures Could Be Improved to Take Advantage of the VISA Program Benefits

RMBCS Refunds

Table 1 - Refund Amounts to DOJ Components

Outstanding Accounts

Delinquent Amounts Owed to RMBCS

Credits Owed to the Department

Conclusion

APPENDIX I  -  Objectives, Scope and Methodology

APPENDIX II  -  Department of Justice Components Reviewed

APPENDIX III  -  VISA Purchase Program Growth by Component

APPENDIX IV  -  Types of Purchases in OIG Random Sample

APPENDIX V  -  Increasing VISA Card Use in Other Agencies

APPENDIX VI  -  Outstanding Accounts by Component

APPENDIX VII  -  Justice Management Division's Response to Draft Report

APPENDIX VIII  -  Office of Justice Programs' Response to Draft Report

APPENDIX IX  -  Executive Office for United States Attorneys' Response to Draft Report

APPENDIX X  -  United States Marshals Service's Response to Draft Report

APPENDIX XI  -  Federal Bureau of Investigation's Response to Draft Report

APPENDIX XII  -  Office of the Inspector General's Analysis of Managements' Responses

 

 


 

September 30, 1997

MEMORANDUM FOR STEPHEN R. COLGATE
                                       ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL
                                       FOR ADMINISTRATION

FROM:                           MICHAEL R. BROMWICH
                                       INSPECTOR GENERAL

SUBJECT:                      Inspection of the Use of the VISA Purchase Card
                                       in the Department of Justice, Report Number I-97-09

Attached is our final report on the subject inspection.

The Inspections Division sent copies of the draft report to your office on July 30, 1997, and requested written comments on the findings and recommendations. Your September 22, 1997, response indicates that you agree with the recommendations.  We have attached your response as Appendix VII.

On the basis of your written comments, we consider the first two recommendations resolved and closed. The third recommendation is resolved but will remain open pending receipt of further information. Appendix XII explains why the recommendation was not closed and what action is needed for closure.

As a matter of policy, Office of the Inspector General final inspection reports are considered public records and will be included on the DOJ/OIG website. However, prior to making this information available on the Internet, we ask that you review the report and your comments and advise us, under separate cover, of any concerns you have relative to proprietary, confidential or personal information that should not be released to the general public pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, the Trade Secrets Act, or any other applicable law or policy.

We appreciate the cooperation extended to the Inspections Division staff during the review. If you have any suggestions as to how we might improve our review process, please let us know.

Attachment

cc:  Warren Oser
       Liaison
       Justice Management Division

       Vickie L. Sloan
       Director
       Audit Liaison Office

 

 


 

 

September 30, 1997

 

MEMORANDUM FOR LOUIS J. FREEH
                                       DIRECTOR
                                       FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

FROM:                           MICHAEL R. BROMWICH
                                       INSPECTOR GENERAL

SUBJECT:                      Inspection of the Use of the VISA Purchase Card
                                       in the Department of Justice, Report Number I-97-09

Attached is our final report on the subject inspection.

The Inspections Division sent copies of the draft report to your office on July 30, 1997. While the report did not contain recommendations for your response, it did include discussion on use of the VISA purchase card in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Therefore, we offered you the opportunity to provide comments on the report and said we would consider them for inclusion in the final report if you chose to provide any. Your response, attached as Appendix XI, stated the FBI does not take issue with either the substance of the draft report or its findings and recommendations.

As a matter of policy, Office of the Inspector General final inspection reports are considered public records and will be included on the DOJ/OIG website. However, prior to making this information available on the Internet, we ask that you review the report and your comments and advise us, under separate cover, of any concerns you have relative to proprietary, confidential or personal information that should not be released to the general public pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, the Trade Secrets Act, or any other applicable law or policy.

We appreciate the cooperation extended to the Inspections Division staff during the review. If you have any suggestions as to how we might improve our review process, please let us know.

Attachment

cc:  Jack Smith McCoy
      Liaison
      Federal Bureau of Investigation

      Vickie L. Sloan
      Director
      Audit Liaison Office

 


 

September 30, 1997

 

MEMORANDUM FOR LAURIE ROBINSON
                                       ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL
                                       OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS

FROM:                           MICHAEL R. BROMWICH
                                       INSPECTOR GENERAL

SUBJECT:                      Inspection of the Use of the VISA Purchase Card
                                       in the Department of Justice, Report Number I-97-09

Attached is our final report on the subject inspection.

The Inspections Division sent copies of the draft report to your office on July 30, 1997, and requested written comments on the findings and recommendation. Your August 25, 1997, response indicates that you agree with the recommendation. We have attached your response as Appendix VIII.

On the basis of your written comments, we consider the recommendation resolved and closed. Appendix XII explains that the recommendation was closed and that no further response is required by our office. Please inform the Justice Management Division when final corrective actions have been taken.

As a matter of policy, Office of the Inspector General final inspection reports are considered public records and will be included on the DOJ/OIG website. However, prior to making this information available on the Internet, we ask that you review the report and your comments and advise us, under separate cover, of any concerns you have relative to proprietary, confidential or personal information that should not be released to the general public pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, the Trade Secrets Act, or any other applicable law or policy.

We appreciate the cooperation extended to the Inspections Division staff during the review. If you have any suggestions as to how we might improve our review process, please let us know.

Attachment

cc:  Jerry Conty
      Liaison
      Office of Justice Programs

      Vickie L. Sloan
      Director
      Audit Liaison Office

 

 


 

 

September 30, 1997

MEMORANDUM FOR CAROL DIBATTISTE
                                       DIRECTOR
                                       EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS

FROM:                           MICHAEL R. BROMWICH
                                       INSPECTOR GENERAL

SUBJECT:                      Inspection of the Use of the VISA Purchase Card
                                       in the Department of Justice, Report Number I-97-09

Attached is our final report on the subject inspection.

The Inspections Division sent copies of the draft report to your office on July 30, 1997, and requested written comments on the findings and recommendation. Your August 29, 1997, response indicates that you agree with the recommendation. We have attached your response as Appendix IX.

On the basis of your written comments, we consider the recommendation resolved and closed. Appendix XII explains that the recommendation was closed and that no further response is required by our office. Please inform the Justice Management Division when final corrective actions have been taken.

As a matter of policy, Office of the Inspector General final inspection reports are considered public records and will be included on the DOJ/OIG website. However, prior to making this information available on the Internet, we ask that you review the report and your comments and advise us, under separate cover, of any concerns you have relative to proprietary, confidential or personal information that should not be released to the general public pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, the Trade Secrets Act, or any other applicable law or policy.

We appreciate the cooperation extended to the Inspections Division staff during the review. If you have any suggestions as to how we might improve our review process, please let us know.

Attachment

cc:  David Downs
      Liaison
      Executive Office for United States Attorneys

      Vickie L. Sloan
      Director
      Audit Liaison Office

 

 


 

September 30, 1997

MEMORANDUM FOR EDUARDO GONZALEZ
                                       DIRECTOR
                                       UNITED STATES MARSHALS SERVICE

FROM:                           MICHAEL R. BROMWICH
                                       INSPECTOR GENERAL

SUBJECT:                      Inspection of the Use of the VISA Purchase Card
                                       in the Department of Justice, Report Number I-97-09

Attached is our final report on the subject inspection.

The Inspections Division sent copies of the draft report to your office on July 30, 1997, and requested written comments on the findings and recommendation. Your September 10, 1997, response indicates that you agree with the recommendation. We have attached your response as Appendix X.

On the basis of your written comments, we consider the recommendation resolved and closed. Appendix XII explains that the recommendation was closed and that no further response is required by our office. Please inform the Justice Management Division when final corrective actions have been taken.

As a matter of policy, Office of the Inspector General final inspection reports are considered public records and will be included on the DOJ/OIG website. However, prior to making this information available on the Internet, we ask that you review the report and your comments and advise us, under separate cover, of any concerns you have relative to proprietary, confidential or personal information that should not be released to the general public pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, the Trade Secrets Act, or any other applicable law or policy.

We appreciate the cooperation extended to the Inspections Division staff during the review. If you have any suggestions as to how we might improve our review process, please let us know.

Attachment

cc:  Lucia C. Clark
      Liaison
      United States Marshals Service

      Vickie L. Sloan
      Director
      Audit Liaison Office

 

 


 

 

September 30, 1997

MEMORANDUM FOR KATHLEEN M. HAWK
                                       COMMISSIONER
                                       FEDERAL PRISON INDUSTRIES

FROM:                           MICHAEL R. BROMWICH
                                       INSPECTOR GENERAL

SUBJECT:                      Inspection of the Use of the VISA Purchase Card
                                       in the Department of Justice, Report Number I-97-09

Attached is our final report on the subject inspection.

The Inspections Division sent copies of the draft report to your office on July 30, 1997. While the report did not contain recommendations for your response, it did include discussion on use of the VISA purchase card in the Federal Prison Industries. Therefore, we offered you the opportunity to provide comments on the report and said we would consider them for inclusion in the final report if you chose to provide any. We did not receive any comments from you.

As a matter of policy, Office of the Inspector General final inspection reports are considered public records and will be included on the DOJ/OIG website. However, prior to making this information available on the Internet, we ask that you review the report and advise us, under separate cover, of any concerns you have relative to proprietary, confidential or personal information that should not be released to the general public pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, the Trade Secrets Act, or any other applicable law or policy.

We appreciate the cooperation extended to the Inspections Division staff during the review. If you have any suggestions as to how we might improve our review process, please let us know.

Attachment

cc:  Ira B. Kirschbaum
      Liaison
      Federal Prison Industries

      Vickie L. Sloan
      Director
      Audit Liaison Office

 

 


 

 

September 30, 1997

MEMORANDUM FOR KATHLEEN M. HAWK
                                       DIRECTOR
                                       BUREAU OF PRISONS

FROM:                           MICHAEL R. BROMWICH
                                       INSPECTOR GENERAL

SUBJECT:                      Inspection of the Use of the VISA Purchase Card
                                        in the Department of Justice, Report Number I-97-09

Attached is our final report on the subject inspection.

The Inspections Division sent copies of the draft report to your office on July 30, 1997. While the report did not contain recommendations for your response, it did include discussion on use of the VISA purchase card in the Bureau of Prisons. Therefore, we offered you the opportunity to provide comments on the report and said we would consider them for inclusion in the final report if you chose to provide any. We did not receive any comments from you.

As a matter of policy, Office of the Inspector General final inspection reports are considered public records and will be included on the DOJ/OIG website. However, prior to making this information available on the Internet, we ask that you review the report and advise us, under separate cover, of any concerns you have relative to proprietary, confidential or personal information that should not be released to the general public pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, the Trade Secrets Act, or any other applicable law or policy.

We appreciate the cooperation extended to the Inspections Division staff during the review. If you have any suggestions as to how we might improve our review process, please let us know.

Attachment

cc:  Keith E. Hall
      Liaison
      Bureau of Prisons

      Vickie L. Sloan
      Director
      Audit Liaison Office

 

 


 

 

September 30, 1997

MEMORANDUM FOR DORIS MEISSNER
                                       COMMISSIONER
                                       IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE

FROM:                           MICHAEL R. BROMWICH
                                       INSPECTOR GENERAL

SUBJECT:                      Inspection of the Use of the VISA Purchase Card
                                       in the Department of Justice, Report Number I-97-09

Attached is our final report on the subject inspection.

The Inspections Division sent copies of the draft report to your office on July 30, 1997. While the report did not contain recommendations for your response, it did include discussion on use of the VISA purchase card in the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Therefore, we offered you the opportunity to provide comments on the report and said we would consider them for inclusion in the final report if you chose to provide any. We did not receive any comments from you.

As a matter of policy, Office of the Inspector General final inspection reports are considered public records and will be included on the DOJ/OIG website. However, prior to making this information available on the Internet, we ask that you review the report and advise us, under separate cover, of any concerns you have relative to proprietary, confidential or personal information that should not be released to the general public pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, the Trade Secrets Act, or any other applicable law or policy.

We appreciate the cooperation extended to the Inspections Division staff during the review. If you have any suggestions as to how we might improve our review process, please let us know.

Attachment

cc: Kathleen Stanley
     Liaison
     Immigration and Naturalization Service

     Vickie L. Sloan
     Director
     Audit Liaison Office

 

 


 

 

September 30, 1997

MEMORANDUM FOR THOMAS A. CONSTANTINE
                                       ADMINISTRATOR
                                       DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION

FROM:                           MICHAEL R. BROMWICH
                                       INSPECTOR GENERAL

SUBJECT:                      Inspection of the Use of the VISA Purchase Card
                                       in the Department of Justice, Report Number I-97-09

Attached is our final report on the subject inspection.

The Inspections Division sent copies of the draft report to your office on July 30, 1997. While the report did not contain recommendations for your response, it did include discussion on use of the VISA purchase card in the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Therefore, we offered you the opportunity to provide comments on the report and said we would consider them for inclusion in the final report if you chose to provide any. The DEA liaison informed us, via telephone, that the DEA did not have any comments on the VISA report.

As a matter of policy, Office of the Inspector General final inspection reports are considered public records and will be included on the DOJ/OIG website. However, prior to making this information available on the Internet, we ask that you review the report and advise us, under separate cover, of any concerns you have relative to proprietary, confidential or personal information that should not be released to the general public pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, the Trade Secrets Act, or any other applicable law or policy.

We appreciate the cooperation extended to the Inspections Division staff during the review. If you have any suggestions as to how we might improve our review process, please let us know.

Attachment

cc:  Frank J. Proietti
      Liaison
      Drug Enforcement Administration

      Vickie L. Sloan
      Director
      Audit Liaison Office

 


 

EXECUTIVE DIGEST

At the request of the Assistant Attorney General for Administration, the Office of the Inspector General has completed a review of the Department's VISA purchase card program. The objectives of the inspection were to determine the extent of VISA card use, identify any barriers to increased use, and assess the program's internal controls.

The Department has established goals for VISA card use and the Justice Management Division has encouraged the components to use the VISA card. Despite these efforts, the components have not used the VISA card to the fullest extent possible. Most of the components have designated cardholders in their field and program offices and have increased their use of the VISA cards. However, some of the components have not distributed VISA cards to all field and program offices. In addition, some of the components have imposed restrictions on the types of purchases that can be made with the VISA card. We recommend that the United States Marshals Service, the Office of Justice Programs and the Executive Office for United States Attorneys complete implementation of their VISA card programs by distributing cards to program and field offices that do not have them. We suggest that the components reassess their restrictions on VISA card purchases to allow maximum use of the VISA card.

Use of the VISA card has not increased in some components because they prefer alternative procurement and payment methods. Fear that employees would not use the VISA card appropriately has also contributed to the lack of distribution and use in the components. Our review of a sample of cardholders' transactions indicates that, overall, the Department's cardholders use their VISA cards responsibly and that misuse is not a significant problem. We recommend that the Department mandate VISA card use for micropurchases (purchases under $2,500), when possible.

The internal controls inherent in the VISA program and the components' administrative procedures, overall, are sufficient to prevent and detect misuse. However, in some components, designated approving officials are responsible for a large number of cardholders. We suggest that components ensure that the number of cardholders assigned to an approving official is small enough to provide appropriate oversight. Direct oversight of cardholders' activities can lessen the potential for misuse. If the approving official or the cardholder's supervisor is not collocated with the cardholder, there should be a separation of duties to ensure that someone other than the cardholder is responsible to receive items purchased.

None of the components takes full advantage of the refund available from Rocky Mountain BankCard System, which is determined by how quickly the component pays the invoice, the method by which it receives and pays the invoice, and the method by which it receives its management reports. We suggest that the components reassess their procedures for not paying the invoices upon receipt. The components could also receive a larger refund if they received and paid the invoices electronically and received their management reports electronically. We suggest that the components determine their capabilities to receive and pay invoices and reports electronically.

 


 

The Department's Components Have Not Used the VISA Card to the Extent Possible

The Department has participated in the General Services Administration's (GSA) Governmentwide Commercial Credit Card Services Program since the program began in 1989. The current GSA contractor for the program, Rocky Mountain BankCard System (RMBCS), issues VISA cards and refers to them as purchase cards.

Use of the VISA purchase card is intended to be a more efficient and less costly method of procurement than traditional methods, such as purchase orders. The VISA card can also be used to place orders against established contracts (if the terms of the contracts authorize its use) or as a payment method. Although it can be used for purchases up to the simplified acquisition threshold of $100,000, the Department's use of the VISA cards has been primarily for purchases at or below $2,500, called micropurchases.1

In the Department, the components are responsible for implementing and administering their own VISA card programs based on policy and guidance established by the Justice Management Division (JMD). The Attorney General has encouraged VISA card use in the Department and JMD has promoted the VISA card program in the components. However, the Department has not been as successful in increasing its use of the VISA card as some other federal agencies.

VISA Program Growth in the Department

The Department has authorized VISA cards since 1989, but did not actively promote their use until Fiscal Year (FY) 1993. From FY 1993 to FY 1995, the Department's number of cardholders and transactions grew slowly. However, the Department significantly increased its number of VISA cardholders and transactions in FY 1996. Figure 1 illustrates the Department's VISA program growth since FY 1993. Appendix III provides this information in more detail and by component. Much of the increase from FY 1995 to FY 1996 resulted from full implementation of VISA programs in the Bureau of Prisons (BOP), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Federal Prison Industries (FPI).

Figure 1 - VISA Program Growth in the Department
(FY 1993 - FY 1996)


From FY 1993 to FY 1995, the Department increased the number of cardholders from 312 to 2,288, the number of transactions from 5,653 to 52,536, and the total amounts charged to VISA from $2.3 million to $17.6 million. According to the Financial Implementation Team for Electronic Commerce (FITEC), however, the Department used the card for less than 10 percent of its total number of micropurchases in FY 1995.2

Between FY 1995 and FY 1996, the Department increased its number of cardholders to 7,810 (an increase of 241 percent), its number of transactions to 188,287 (an increase of 258 percent) and the amount charged to $73.4 million (an increase of 316 percent). Despite the significant growth in one year, FITEC data for FY 1996 indicate that the Department still only used the VISA card for 31 percent of its total micropurchases.

Distribution of Cards

A goal of the VISA program is wide distribution of the cards to employees, who can benefit from their use. To achieve this goal, the components must authorize VISA cards for all program and field offices and for employees in both procurement and non-procurement positions. In the Department, all program and field offices in the BOP, the DEA, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the FPI, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), and the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) have VISA cards. We found the following among the remaining components:

· In the United States Marshals Service (USMS), 6 of the 94 district offices do not have VISA cards. 3

· In the United States Attorneys' Offices (USAO), 7 of 94 district offices do not have VISA cards.

· In the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), none of the five major program offices has VISA cards.

VISA Card Distribution Among Headquarters and
Field Offices in OIG Random Sample

Based on a random sample of VISA transactions made during the Department's billing period, April 16-May 15, 1996, we assessed whether cardholders were located in Headquarters offices or field offices and whether these cardholders were in procurement or non-procurement positions.4 We determined that 23 percent of the 594 cardholders in our sample were considered Headquarters staff, typically located in the Washington, DC, area. The remaining 77 percent were in field locations throughout the country. Figure 2 illustrates this data.

Figure 2 - Percent of Cardholders Located
in Headquarters (HQS) and Field Offices


Most of the components have authorized VISA cards for employees in procurement positions and non-procurement positions. Employees in non-procurement positions are typically administrative support personnel who make purchases for the program offices, but can include other program office personnel such as attorneys and special agents. As of September 30, 1996, OJP had only three cardholders and all of them were in procurement positions.

Based on the OIG random sample, we determined that 14 percent of the 594 cardholders held traditional procurement positions and 86 percent held non-procurement positions. The following are examples of cardholders in the non-procurement positions: administrative officers, factory foremen, Deputy United States Marshals, Border Patrol Agents, carpenters, and plumbers. Figure 3 shows, by component, the percentage of cardholders in our sample, who are in procurement and non-procurement positions.

Figure 3 - Percent of Cardholders
Holding Procurement and Non-Procurement Positions



Our field work showed that most of the components have distributed VISA cards to field and program offices and to personnel in non-procurement positions, thereby improving the opportunity for increased VISA card use in the Department.

Restrictions on VISA Card Use

The VISA card can be used for most goods and services available in the commercial market. (Appendix IV illustrates the types of purchases made by cardholders in the OIG random sample.) However, the GSA contract restricts its use for such items as cash advances, telecommunications services and hotel expenses associated with employee travel (unless the government travel card, American Express, is not accepted). In addition to the GSA contract restrictions, some components have imposed restrictions on the types of purchases for which their cardholders can use the VISA card. We found the following restrictions:

· Cardholders in BOP cannot purchase controlled property, i.e., items that must be added to the property inventory system or could compromise an institution's security.

· Cardholders in DEA cannot purchase services for maintenance on ADP equipment, copiers, etc.

· Cardholders in FPI cannot purchase raw materials for manufacturing.

· Cardholders in INS must review a "Don't Buy List" of prohibited items, which includes items such as certain types of subscriptions and filing equipment. The list also includes some purchases for which the VISA card can be used, such as ADP equipment, but require approval before the purchases can be made.

· Cardholders in the USMS cannot purchase copy equipment or printing services.

· Cardholders in the Offices, Boards, and Divisions (OBD), which include OJP and the OIG, cannot purchase on-going services such as maintenance and janitorial services. In addition, the OIG cardholders cannot purchase office equipment.

Some of the OBDs and other Department components have used a service offered by the DOJ Library to purchase their publications. As a result, cardholders in these components were prohibited from purchasing these publications. Because the DOJ Library procurement procedures did not include the VISA card, the Assistant Attorney General for Administration changed this service to increase VISA card use in the Department. Effective January 1997, the cardholders in the OBDs and other Department components are authorized to purchase one-time publications, local newspapers, and magazines under a total of $2,500.

Conclusion

The components have expanded their VISA purchase card programs and are beginning to increase their use of the card. However, the Department cannot achieve maximum VISA card use until all program and field offices in the components have VISA cards available to them. We suggest that the components reassess their restrictions on VISA card purchases and modify them, if practicable, to authorize employees to use their VISA cards for all purchases possible.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

The Inspections Division recommends that the Director, USMS; the Assistant Attorney General, OJP; and the Director, EOUSA :

1. Complete implementation of the VISA card program by distributing VISA cards to major field and program offices, which do not have them, or notify the Assistant Attorney General for Administration why this is not feasible.

The Inspections Division recommends that the Assistant Attorney General for Administration:

2. Assess actions taken by the USMS, OJP, and EOUSA to complete VISA program implementation and advise us when card distribution is complete.

 


1 Micropurchases are exempt from the general requirements for competition, the Buy American Act and some small business requirements.

2 FITEC is an interagency committee under the guidance of the Chief Financial Officer Council, which is composed of chief financial officers and their deputies from approximately 24 federal agencies who meet periodically to work on common areas of concern.

3 As of July 1997, only two USMS district offices and two USAOs do not have VISA cards.

4 The OIG random sample is discussed further in Appendix I.

#####