Department of Commerce

The Department of Commerce (DOC) Office of Inspector General concluded that the agency was compliant with the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019 (PIIA) in the most recent compliance audit. PIIA requires agencies to review and assess all programs and activities with annual outlays greater than $10,000,000 for improper payment risk at least once every three years to identify those susceptible to significant improper payments. Each of the Department’s bureaus/reporting entities periodically completes or updates improper payment risk assessments covering all of its programs/activities over a one-to-three-year period. In FY 2025, DOC conducted improper payment risk assessments for numerous programs/activities and determined they were not susceptible to significant improper payments.

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  • Department of Commerce improper payment estimates over time
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    Overpayment
    Underpayment
    Technically improper
    Unknown

Recovery information

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Overpayment amount identified for recapture
Overpayment amount recovered

Recovery of overpayments

Please note: Overpayment amounts recovered are reported in the year they were recovered, not the year they were identified. Therefore it is possible in some years to have a recovery rate greater than 100%.

Overpayment amount identified through recovery activities $51.7 M
Overpayment amount recovered through recovery activities $51.0 M
Recovery activities recovery rate 98.65 %

Why recovery audits are not cost effective in certain programs

OMB Circular A-123, Appendix C provides guidance for agencies to determine if cost-effective payment recapture audits can be performed. The Department had been performing, from 2005 through June 2017, primarily with contractor assistance, annual payment recapture audits of contracts/obligations for many of the Department’s bureaus/ reporting entities on a rotational basis. Annual payment recapture auditing was additionally performed by a contractor, effective 2011, for Department-wide grants and other cooperative agreements (i.e., financial assistance). In March 2018, the Department completed a cost/benefit analysis for contracts/obligations and for grants and other cooperative agreements and determined that it was not able to conduct a cost-effective payment recapture audit program (one in which the benefits, including recaptured amounts, exceed the costs) for the above noted categories. The Department continues to periodically evaluate if there are any categories of disbursements for which payment recapture auditing could be or could become cost-effective.

Supplemental Information

The Department in FY 2025 utilized the Do Not Pay portal for pre-payment checking and post-payment adjudication checking. The Department's above noted Do Not Pay processes in FY 2025 did not lead to the significant reduction of any improper payments.

The Working System has not reduced/prevented improper payments:

The Working System strives to maintain accurate data. However, the past year, DOC has identified incorrect information in the Working System Annually.

DOC was found compliant during the most recent PIIA compliance review.

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Compliant programs:

  • Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)
  • Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)
  • Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) - Dual Use Export Administration and Enforcement
  • Census Bureau
  • Census Bureau - Current Demographic Statistics
  • Census Bureau - Current Economic Statistics
  • Census Bureau - Decennial Census
  • Census Bureau - Enterprise Data Capture and Dissemination System (EDCADS) - Census Personnel and Employment Check Systems
  • Census Bureau - Enterprise Data Capture and Dissemination System (EDCADS) - Data Ingest and Collection for the Enterprise
  • Census Bureau - Enterprise Data Capture and Dissemination System (EDCADS) - Enterprise Data Lake
  • Census Bureau - Enterprise Data Capture and Dissemination System (EDCADS) - Enterprise Dissemination Services
  • Census Bureau - Enterprise Data Capture and Dissemination System (EDCADS) - Research and Application
  • Census Bureau - Enterprise Data Collection and Dissemination System (EDCADS) - Administrative Records Research and Integration
  • Census Bureau - Geographic Support
  • Census Bureau - Periodic Economic Statistics
  • Census Bureau - State Children's Health Insurance Program
  • Census Bureau - Survey of Program Dynamics
  • Census Bureau - Working Capital Fund
  • Economic Development Administration (EDA)
  • Economic Development Administration (EDA) - Grants
  • Economic Development Administration (EDA) - Salaries and Expenses
  • International Trade Administration (ITA)
  • International Trade Administration (ITA) - Enforcement and Compliance
  • International Trade Administration (ITA) - Executive Direction and Administration
  • International Trade Administration (ITA) - Global Markets
  • International Trade Administration (ITA) - Industry and Analysis
  • Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)
  • Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) - Minority Business Development Grants
  • Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) - Minority Business Development and Advocacy
  • National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
  • National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) - Contracts/Purchase Orders
  • National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) - Grants
  • National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) - IPACs/Other/Miscellaneous
  • National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) - Loans
  • National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) - Other Transaction Agreements
  • National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) - Payments to Employees
  • National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) - Purchase Card
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - Grants
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - Labor and Payments to Employees
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - Loans, IPACs, Other
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - Purchase Orders and Contracts
  • National Technical Information Service (NTIS)
  • National Technical Information Service (NTIS) - (Collect and Disseminate Technical Information - Clearinghouse Program)
  • National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
  • National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) - Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program
  • National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) - Broadband Infrastructure Program & Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program
  • National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) - Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
  • National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) - Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program
  • National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) - Digital Equity Program
  • National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) - Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Fund, excluding TV Converter Box Coupon Program and Public Safety Interoperable Communications
  • National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) - Domestic and International Policies and Advanced Communications Research; Spectrum Management; Public Safety Communications
  • National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) - First Responder Network Authority
  • National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) - Middle Mile Program
  • National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) - Non-FirstNet Activity included in a) Public Safety Trust Fund; and b) Network Construction Fund
  • National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) - Public Telecommunications Facilities Program
  • National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) - Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund
  • National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) - Special Projects
  • National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) - State and Local Grant Implementation Program
  • Office of Inspector General (OIG) - Department of Commerce
  • Office of the Secretary (OS)
  • Office of the Secretary (OS) - Departmental Management
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) - Patents and Trademarks

Program name When was the last improper payment risk assessment conducted? Likely to be susceptible to significant improper payments? Substantial changes made to the assessment methodology used for the reporting cycle
Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) 2024 No No
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) 2023 No No
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) - Dual Use Export Administration and Enforcement 2024 No No
Census Bureau 2024 No No
Census Bureau - Current Demographic Statistics 2024 No No
Census Bureau - Current Economic Statistics 2024 No No
Census Bureau - Decennial Census 2024 No No
Census Bureau - Enterprise Data Capture and Dissemination System (EDCADS) - Census Personnel and Employment Check Systems 2023 No No
Census Bureau - Enterprise Data Capture and Dissemination System (EDCADS) - Data Ingest and Collection for the Enterprise 2023 No No
Census Bureau - Enterprise Data Capture and Dissemination System (EDCADS) - Enterprise Data Lake 2023 No No
Census Bureau - Enterprise Data Capture and Dissemination System (EDCADS) - Enterprise Dissemination Services 2024 No No
Census Bureau - Enterprise Data Capture and Dissemination System (EDCADS) - Research and Application *
Census Bureau - Enterprise Data Collection and Dissemination System (EDCADS) - Administrative Records Research and Integration 2024 No No
Census Bureau - Geographic Support 2024 No No
Census Bureau - Periodic Economic Statistics 2024 No No
Census Bureau - State Children's Health Insurance Program 2025 No No
Census Bureau - Survey of Program Dynamics 2022 No No
Census Bureau - Working Capital Fund 2025 No No
Economic Development Administration (EDA) 2021 No No
Economic Development Administration (EDA) - Grants 2025 No No
Economic Development Administration (EDA) - Salaries and Expenses 2024 No No
International Trade Administration (ITA) 2024 No No
International Trade Administration (ITA) - Enforcement and Compliance 2024 No No
International Trade Administration (ITA) - Executive Direction and Administration 2024 No No
International Trade Administration (ITA) - Global Markets 2025 No No
International Trade Administration (ITA) - Industry and Analysis 2024 No No
Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) 2023 No No
Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) - Minority Business Development and Advocacy 2024 No No
Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) - Minority Business Development Grants 2023 No No
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 2023 No No
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) - Contracts/Purchase Orders 2024 No No
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) - Grants 2024 No No
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) - IPACs/Other/Miscellaneous 2025 No No
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) - Loans *
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) - Other Transaction Agreements 2025 No No
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) - Payments to Employees 2025 No No
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) - Purchase Card 2025 No No
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 2023 No No
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - Grants 2024 No No
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - Labor and Payments to Employees 2024 No No
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - Loans, IPACs, Other 2023 No No
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - Purchase Orders and Contracts 2024 No No
National Technical Information Service (NTIS) 2023 No No
National Technical Information Service (NTIS) - (Collect and Disseminate Technical Information - Clearinghouse Program) 2025 No No
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) 2023 No No
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) - Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program 2023 No No
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) - Broadband Infrastructure Program & Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program 2025 No No
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) - Broadband Technology Opportunities Program 2022 No No
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) - Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program 2024 No No
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) - Digital Equity Program 2025 No No
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) - Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Fund, excluding TV Converter Box Coupon Program and Public Safety Interoperable Communications 2023 No No
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) - Domestic and International Policies and Advanced Communications Research; Spectrum Management; Public Safety Communications 2025 No No
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) - First Responder Network Authority 2025 No No
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) - Middle Mile Program 2024 No No
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) - Non-FirstNet Activity included in a) Public Safety Trust Fund; and b) Network Construction Fund 2023 No No
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) - Public Telecommunications Facilities Program 2023 No No
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) - Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund 2025 No No
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) - Special Projects *
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) - State and Local Grant Implementation Program 2023 No No
Office of Inspector General (OIG) - Department of Commerce 2024 No No
Office of the Secretary (OS) 2023 No No
Office of the Secretary (OS) - Departmental Management 2024 No No
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office 2023 No No
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) - Patents and Trademarks 2023 No No

* Assessment year is not displayed because one or more of the following statements is true:

  1. Not required to conduct a risk assessment under the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019,
  2. Already assessed for improper payment risk under a different name in a prior reporting period, and/or
  3. New and planning to perform a risk assessment in the future.