Westinghouse Savannah River Company's Health Benefit Plan
Westinghouse Savannah River Company (Westinghouse) manages and operates the Savannah River Site, located in Aiken, South Carolina, for the U.S. Department of Energy (Department). Westinghouse was self-insured for health benefits and contracted with Aetna Insurance to administer the plan (service payments to providers) from Calendar Year (CY) 1989 through 1996. Westinghouse’s administrative service contract with Aetna Insurance expired on December 31, 1996. Westinghouse chose Blue Cross/Blue Shield of South Carolina (BC/BS) to administer its health plan, effective January 1, 1997.
Small Disadvantaged Business Program at the Chicago Operations Office
The Small Business Act (Act) requires that small business concerns owned and controlled by socially or economically disadvantaged individuals have the maximum practicable opportunity to participate in
contracts awarded by any Federal agency. Section 8(a) of the Act establishes a program that authorizes the Small Business Administration (SBA) to enter into contracts with other agencies and award subcontracts for performing those contracts to firms enrolled in the 8(a) Program directly to the
agencies. Contracts are to be awarded competitively if the anticipated award price of the contract will exceed $3 million and at least two responsible 8(a) firms could submit offers.
contracts awarded by any Federal agency. Section 8(a) of the Act establishes a program that authorizes the Small Business Administration (SBA) to enter into contracts with other agencies and award subcontracts for performing those contracts to firms enrolled in the 8(a) Program directly to the
agencies. Contracts are to be awarded competitively if the anticipated award price of the contract will exceed $3 million and at least two responsible 8(a) firms could submit offers.
Inspection of Reporting at Oak Ridge of Potential Noncompliances With DOE Price-Anderson Amendments Act Implementing Rules
To provide oversight of how well Department of Energy (DOE) contractors were
adhering to the nuclear safety rules established by the Department to implement the Price-Anderson Amendments Act of 1988 (PAAA), DOE established an enforcement
program, managed by the Office of Environment, Safety and Health (EH). The
purpose of the program is to identify and penalize DOE contractors for unsafe actions
or conditions that violate nuclear safety requirements for protecting workers and the
public. The single most important goal of the Department’s PAAA enforcement program is to encourage early identification and reporting of nuclear safety deficiencies and violations of DOE nuclear safety requirements by the DOE contractors themselves, rather than by DOE. Enforcement actions may include the
issuance of Notices of Violations and, where appropriate, civil monetary penalties of up to $110,000 per violation per day. The objective of our inspection was to determine whether potential noncompliances with nuclear safety rules at the Department’s Oak Ridge site were being identified and self-reported.
adhering to the nuclear safety rules established by the Department to implement the Price-Anderson Amendments Act of 1988 (PAAA), DOE established an enforcement
program, managed by the Office of Environment, Safety and Health (EH). The
purpose of the program is to identify and penalize DOE contractors for unsafe actions
or conditions that violate nuclear safety requirements for protecting workers and the
public. The single most important goal of the Department’s PAAA enforcement program is to encourage early identification and reporting of nuclear safety deficiencies and violations of DOE nuclear safety requirements by the DOE contractors themselves, rather than by DOE. Enforcement actions may include the
issuance of Notices of Violations and, where appropriate, civil monetary penalties of up to $110,000 per violation per day. The objective of our inspection was to determine whether potential noncompliances with nuclear safety rules at the Department’s Oak Ridge site were being identified and self-reported.
Aircraft and Air Service Management Programs
The Department of Energy's (Department) Albuquerque Operations Office (Albuquerque) owns seven
aircraft that support defense programs, research and development efforts, emergency response programs,
and official travel of Government and contractor employees. An Office of Inspector General (OIG) report,
issued in 1994, identified concerns with Albuquerque's cost for air service. Since that report, there have
been reductions in cost and personnel indicating changes in air service requirements. We conducted this
audit to determine (1) whether costs to operate Albuquerque's aircraft
were excessive and (2) if individual aircraft in the fleet were justified.
On January 7, 1999, the OIG issued a separate report on its Review of the U.S. Department of Energy’s
Aircraft Activities, (DOE/IG-0435). This report assessed aircraft operations nationwide, and suggested that
enhanced centralized management was needed to ensure that new and existing aircraft were justified based
on mission needs, and that program costs were minimized.
aircraft that support defense programs, research and development efforts, emergency response programs,
and official travel of Government and contractor employees. An Office of Inspector General (OIG) report,
issued in 1994, identified concerns with Albuquerque's cost for air service. Since that report, there have
been reductions in cost and personnel indicating changes in air service requirements. We conducted this
audit to determine (1) whether costs to operate Albuquerque's aircraft
were excessive and (2) if individual aircraft in the fleet were justified.
On January 7, 1999, the OIG issued a separate report on its Review of the U.S. Department of Energy’s
Aircraft Activities, (DOE/IG-0435). This report assessed aircraft operations nationwide, and suggested that
enhanced centralized management was needed to ensure that new and existing aircraft were justified based
on mission needs, and that program costs were minimized.
The U.S. Department of Energy's Procurement and Assistance Data System
The Procurement and Assistance Data System (PADS) is the Department's official computerized system maintained to collect, track, and report Department of Energy procurement and financial assistance actions.
The system stores information used to (1) monitor procurement and financial assistance processes, awards,
and administration; (2) provide required recurring reports to the Office of Management and Budget, General Services Administration, Department of Commerce, and Small Business Administration; and (3)
satisfy Freedom of Information Act and congressional requests and other public inquiries.
The system stores information used to (1) monitor procurement and financial assistance processes, awards,
and administration; (2) provide required recurring reports to the Office of Management and Budget, General Services Administration, Department of Commerce, and Small Business Administration; and (3)
satisfy Freedom of Information Act and congressional requests and other public inquiries.