The Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley) is a research laboratory managed by the Department's Berkeley Site Office (Site Office). Berkeley, operated under contract by the University of California, conducts unclassified research across a wide range of scientific disciplines, employing approximately 4,200 scientists, engineers, support staff and students. In addition to its Fiscal Year 2010 budget of approximately $707 million, Berkeley
received an additional $104 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). Much of this funding is being used in combination with Department funds to complete infrastructure upgrades through the use of contractors and subcontractors, resulting in temporary workers gaining access to the Berkeley site.
The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (the Act) makes it illegal for employers to knowingly hire and continue to employ individuals who are not eligible to work (unauthorized workers) in the United States (U.S.). To comply with the Act, employers must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form (Form I-9) for each employee at the time of hiring.
Because of potential security concerns associated with unauthorized workers, we initiated this inspection to determine whether contractors who were awarded contracts for infrastructure upgrades at Berkeley, including their subcontractors, verified the employment eligibility of their employees in accordance with Federal requirements prior to those employees accessing the site.
received an additional $104 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). Much of this funding is being used in combination with Department funds to complete infrastructure upgrades through the use of contractors and subcontractors, resulting in temporary workers gaining access to the Berkeley site.
The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (the Act) makes it illegal for employers to knowingly hire and continue to employ individuals who are not eligible to work (unauthorized workers) in the United States (U.S.). To comply with the Act, employers must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form (Form I-9) for each employee at the time of hiring.
Because of potential security concerns associated with unauthorized workers, we initiated this inspection to determine whether contractors who were awarded contracts for infrastructure upgrades at Berkeley, including their subcontractors, verified the employment eligibility of their employees in accordance with Federal requirements prior to those employees accessing the site.
The Department of Energy's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – New JerseyState Energy Program
The Department of Energy's (Department) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) provides grants to states, territories and the District of Columbia (states) in support of their energy priorities through the State Energy Program (SEP). Based on population and energy consumption, and after a review of proposed projects, EERE allocated a total of $3.1 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) funds to the states. The grant awards were designed to help states achieve SEP Recovery Act objectives, including preserving and creating jobs; saving energy; increasing renewable energy sources; and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. EERE
program guidance held each state responsible for administering the SEP and for
implementing sound internal controls over the use of Recovery Act funds.
The State of New Jersey's (New Jersey) Board of Public Utilities (BPU) was assigned
responsibility for New Jersey's SEP. BPU received $73.6 million of SEP Recovery Act
funds – a 96-fold increase over New Jersey's Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 funding of $768,000. BPU planned to fund $20.6 million in State grants, $36 million in Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with other State entities, about $16 million in energy rebates, and budgeted about $1 million in administrative costs. Per the Recovery Act, the Department was required to obligate the funds by September 30, 2010. The State was to have spent the funds by April 30, 2012, the date specified in the grant agreement. As part of the Office of Inspector General's strategy for reviewing the Department's implementation of the Recovery Act, we initiated this review to determine whether New Jersey had internal controls in place to ensure that the goals of the SEP and Recovery Act would be accomplished efficiently and effectively.
program guidance held each state responsible for administering the SEP and for
implementing sound internal controls over the use of Recovery Act funds.
The State of New Jersey's (New Jersey) Board of Public Utilities (BPU) was assigned
responsibility for New Jersey's SEP. BPU received $73.6 million of SEP Recovery Act
funds – a 96-fold increase over New Jersey's Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 funding of $768,000. BPU planned to fund $20.6 million in State grants, $36 million in Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with other State entities, about $16 million in energy rebates, and budgeted about $1 million in administrative costs. Per the Recovery Act, the Department was required to obligate the funds by September 30, 2010. The State was to have spent the funds by April 30, 2012, the date specified in the grant agreement. As part of the Office of Inspector General's strategy for reviewing the Department's implementation of the Recovery Act, we initiated this review to determine whether New Jersey had internal controls in place to ensure that the goals of the SEP and Recovery Act would be accomplished efficiently and effectively.
Department of Energy Isotope Program's Fiscal Year 2007
The attached report presents the results of the independent certified public accountants' audit
of the United States (U.S.) Department of Energy Isotope Program's (the Program) Fiscal Year
(FY) 2007 balance sheet and the related statements of net cost and changes in net position, and
combined statement of budgetary resources for the year ended September 30, 2007 (hereinafter
referred to as "financial statements").
of the United States (U.S.) Department of Energy Isotope Program's (the Program) Fiscal Year
(FY) 2007 balance sheet and the related statements of net cost and changes in net position, and
combined statement of budgetary resources for the year ended September 30, 2007 (hereinafter
referred to as "financial statements").
Department's Management of Cloud Computing Services
Cloud computing enables convenient, on-demand access to shared computing resources that can be rapidly provided to users. According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and industry experts, benefits of the cloud computing model include the ability to more effectively manage Information Technology (IT) resources while reducing operating costs. For instance, it permits organizations to plan computer usage and add or subtract resources as necessary rather than invest in hardware and software that may be needed but not necessarily frequently used. In addition, the cloud computing model can increase employee mobility by allowing access to computing resources regardless of physical location. Furthermore, it allows IT personnel to be more flexible in the allocation of resources, allowing them to focus less on maintenance and more on innovation.
Solar Technology Pathway Partnerships Cooperative Agreements
The Department of Energy's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – Massachusetts State Energy Program
The Department of Energy's (Department) State Energy Program (SEP) provides grants to states,
territories, and the District of Columbia (states) to support their energy priorities. The SEP
allows the states to implement energy efficiency and renewable energy projects that meet their
unique energy needs and emphasizes the state's role as the administrator for the program. The
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) significantly expanded the
SEP by providing an additional $3.1 billion for states' projects. The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts' Department of Energy Resources (Massachusetts) was allocated $54.9 million in
SEP funds under the Recovery Act – a more than 72-fold increase over its Fiscal Year 2008 SEP
grant of $753,000. As specified by the Department in its grant agreement and program guidance,
SEP funding was to be obligated by September 30, 2010, and spent by April 30, 2012.
territories, and the District of Columbia (states) to support their energy priorities. The SEP
allows the states to implement energy efficiency and renewable energy projects that meet their
unique energy needs and emphasizes the state's role as the administrator for the program. The
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) significantly expanded the
SEP by providing an additional $3.1 billion for states' projects. The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts' Department of Energy Resources (Massachusetts) was allocated $54.9 million in
SEP funds under the Recovery Act – a more than 72-fold increase over its Fiscal Year 2008 SEP
grant of $753,000. As specified by the Department in its grant agreement and program guidance,
SEP funding was to be obligated by September 30, 2010, and spent by April 30, 2012.