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[CNJRoss]

Railway Age, 5/18/23

 

OIG Identifies Fraud Risks as Amtrak Begins Large Acquisitions, Infrastructure Programs

 

Written by David C. Lester, Engineering Editor and Editor-in-Chief, Railway Track & Structures

 

 

Amtrak’s Office of Inspector General has released a report outlining fraud risks “America’s Railroad” could face as it leverages significant federal investments for major acquisitions and capital projects.

 

According to the report (download below), historic levels of federal funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) will, in part, advance the company’s long-term, large-scale infrastructure goals and significantly expand its traditional passenger rail operations mission to now include a major capital delivery mission. The sheer size and nature of this expansion will, however, increase the company’s fraud risk, the report said.

 

The report identified four high-risk fraud areas the company faces: contracts and procurements, health care, employee wrongdoing, and cybercrime.  . . .

 

 

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[CNJRoss]

Progressive Railroading, 7/24/23

 

OIG: Amtrak improved project cost management, but challenges remain

 

Amtrak is improving how it tracks and manages capital project costs, but still faces challenges with the systems and processes it uses, according to an Amtrak Office of Inspector General (OIG) report issued July 19.

 

Current systems and processes hinder executives and project teams from obtaining consistent, detailed cost data, the OIG concluded. Having that data is critical for effectively managing billions of dollars in funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the report states.

 

Since Amtrak established its capital delivery department in 2022, the railroad has improved its project management capabilities. But there are other areas where it can improve, OIG officials wrote.  . . . 

 

 

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[CNJRoss]

Trains News Wire

 

Amtrak Inspector General report highlights role of data analysis to prevent procurement fraud

 

By Trains Staff | April 18, 2024

 

Follow-up to earlier report considers best practices for company to avoid issues during record infrastructure spending

 

WASHINGTON — Data analysis can help Amtrak avoid fraud in the procurement process as it deals with historic amounts of funding for infrastructure projects, Amtrak’s Office of Inspector General says in a new report.

 

The report issued Wednesday, April 17, is a follow-up to one last year that identified procurement and contracts as one of four areas in which the company is at highest risk of fraud [see “Amtrak Inspector General warns of fraud risk …,” Trains News Wire, May 19, 2023]. The latest report notes that the Office of Inspector General has investigated 110 fraud-related cases between 2017 and September 2023, helping recover $269 million in restitution, forfeitures, and other areas. The office has also issued 25 audit reports identifying areas of vulnerability in that time.

 

The new report also says that best practices indicate organizations collect data in a format that helps recognize potential fraud, . . .

 

 

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