Federal Transit Administration Transit Infrastructure Grants - COVID Relief Funds

Home > Agencies & Programs > Federal Transit Administration Transit Infrastructure Grants - COVID Relief Funds

Program level Payment Integrity results

Sponsoring agency: Department of Transportation

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, FTA received three emergency appropriations to support the nation’s public transportation systems. The funding provided relief to transit agencies for ongoing operations rather than traditional capital investments. The primary root cause of the program’s improper payments is the timing when transit operating expenses became eligible for reimbursement. New COVID funding eligibilities did not align with the prior period accounting adjustments made during the testing period such as: employee benefits and direct costs calculations, accruals, and payroll reversals. Funds are not administered at the Federal level and overpayments are outside of FTA control when grant recipients make administrative errors.

View on Federal Program Inventory

PROGRAM METRICS

$13,174 M

in FY 2022 outlays, with a

98.4%

payment accuracy rate

PROGRAM METRICS

$24,408 M

in FY 2023 outlays, with a

97.9%

payment accuracy rate

PROGRAM METRICS

$9,747 M

in FY 2024 outlays, with a

98.4%

payment accuracy rate

PROGRAM METRICS

$5,279 M

in FY 2025 outlays, with a

99.8%

payment accuracy rate

  • Improper payment estimates over time
    View as:

    Chart toggle amounts:
    Proper payments
    Overpayment
    Underpayment
    Technically improper
    Unknown

Payment Integrity results

  • FY 2022 improper payment estimates

    Chart legend and breakdown

    Payment accuracy rate

    Improper payment rate

    Unknown payment rate


    Sampling & estimation methodology details

    Sampling timeframe:

    10/2020 - 09/2021


    Confidence interval:

    95% to <100%


    Margin of error:

    +/-2.28

Overpayments

Overpayment root cause Overpayment amount
Amount of overpayments within the agency's control $0 M

Overpayment root cause Overpayment amount
Amount of overpayments outside the agency's control $206.6 M
Amount of overpayments that occurred because the data/information needed to validate payment accuracy prior to making a payment does not exist $0.0 M
The amount of overpayments that occurred because of an inability to access the data/information needed to validate payment accuracy prior to making a payment $0.0 M
The amount of overpayments that occurred because of a failure to access data/information needed to validate payment accuracy prior to making a payment $206.6 M

Underpayments

Underpayment root cause Underpayment amount
Amount of underpayments $0 M

Technically improper payments

The amount of improper payments that were paid to the right recipient for the correct amount but were considered technically improper because of failure to follow statute or regulation $0.0 M

Additional information

$0 M

Unknown Payment Details

Evaluation of corrective actions

FTA's Office of Budget and Policy monitors PIIA findings and corrective actions to address identified procedures and internal control weaknesses to ensure they are addressed by its regional offices.

FTA's Office of Program Oversight develops and implements a comprehensive national oversight program to ensure that funding recipients remain compliant with the requirements of FTA’s assistance programs. To foster stewardship of federal funds, the office institutes oversight performance metrics, analyzes nationwide recipient compliance trends, and develops and implements technical assistance and training tools and events based on grantee oversight trend analysis.

Future payment integrity outlook

Federal Transit Administration Transit Infrastructure Grants - COVID Relief Funds has established a baseline.

The reduction target aligns with the Organizational Excellence strategic objective within the Department's Strategic Plan to ensure responsible and transparent stewardship public resources. The plan includes a key performance indicator to achieve a 99% payment accuracy rate to demonstrate robust internal controls at both the Federal and grant recipient levels.

Out-Year improper payment and unknown payment projections and target
Current year +1 estimated future outlays $20,386 M
Current year +1 estimated future improper payments $203.86 M
Current year +1 estimated future unknown payments $0 M
Current year +1 estimated future improper payment and unknown payment rate 1.0 %
Current year +1 estimated future improper payment and unknown payment reduction target 1.0 %

The program's current year improper payment and unknown payment rate of 1.57 % may or may not be the tolerable rate. The agency has not yet determined the tolerable rate for this program.

The program is new and is reporting an estimate for the first time.

At the Federal level, the program has what is needed with respect to internal controls, human capital, and information systems to reduce improper payments and unknown payments to the tolerable rate.

The purpose of FTA's Administrative Expenses budget is to provide resources to carry out FTA’s mission to support safe and high-quality public transportation systems that ensure access and mobility to the nation and its citizens. These resources support salaries, benefits, travel, rent, communications, printing, contracts, supplies, equipment and all other administrative and operational costs that allow FTA to manage and oversee approximately $100 billion in active transit grants annually and achieve its strategic mission.

FTA plans to utilize Transit Formula Grants Oversight funding for the development, modernization, and enhancement (DME), and operations and maintenance (O&M) of the Transit Award Management System (TrAMS). TrAMS is FTA’s flagship grant-making system, and supports FTA’s grantmaking mission by providing efficient automation, tracking, and visibility functionality in grant-making activities.

Additional programmatic information

FTA’s Transit Infrastructure Grants – COVID Relief Funds includes funding provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 (CRRSAA), and American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) to support the nation’s public transportation systems as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program is susceptible to significant improper payments and plans to report a phase 2 estimate for FY 2023.

  • FY 2023 improper payment estimates

    Chart legend and breakdown

    Payment accuracy rate

    Improper payment rate

    Unknown payment rate


    Sampling & estimation methodology details

    Sampling timeframe:

    10/2021 - 09/2022


    Confidence interval:

    95% to <100%


    Margin of error:

    +/-3.88

  • Actions taken & planned to mitigate improper payments

    Mitigation strategy Description of the corrective action Completion date Status
    Training
    FTA held payment integrity training with its regional offices and select transit authorities at the onset of the sampling and estimation review. FTA also advised and recovered overpayments from grant recipients with identified FY 2022 improper payments of the requirements to correct future reimbursement requests.
    FY2023 Q3
    Completed
    Training
    FTA will advise grant recipients of requirements to correct future reimbursement requests and recover overpayments, if applicable. FTA will also issue a nationwide memorandum to its COVID funding recipients to clarify that cost incurred prior to COVID-19 are ineligible.
    FY2024
    Planned

Overpayments

Overpayment root cause Overpayment amount
Amount of overpayments within the agency's control $0 M

FTA's Transit Infrastructure Grants - COVID Relief Funds are not administered at the Federal level and overpayments are outside of FTA control when grant recipients make administrative errors. Grant recipients must administer Federal transit funds within statutory requirements and in accordance with FTA regulations. Grant recipients certify to FTA that they have the ability and intention to meet these requirements. Whereas grant recipients are responsible for the administration of federal assistance, FTA is responsible, primarily through its regional offices, for ensuring compliance with Federal requirements and proper use of Federal funds.
Overpayment root cause Overpayment amount
Amount of overpayments outside the agency's control $506.4 M
Amount of overpayments that occurred because the data/information needed to validate payment accuracy prior to making a payment does not exist $0.0 M
The amount of overpayments that occurred because of an inability to access the data/information needed to validate payment accuracy prior to making a payment $0.0 M
The amount of overpayments that occurred because of a failure to access data/information needed to validate payment accuracy prior to making a payment $506.4 M

Overpayment type Eligibility element/information needed Eligibility amount
Overpayments Outside Agency Control Receiving Benefits from Other Sources $506.4 M

Underpayments

Underpayment root cause Underpayment amount
Amount of underpayments $0 M

Technically improper payments

The amount of improper payments that were paid to the right recipient for the correct amount but were considered technically improper because of failure to follow statute or regulation $0.0 M

Additional information

$0 M

Unknown Payment Details

Evaluation of corrective actions

FTA's Office of Budget and Policy monitors PIIA findings and corrective actions to address identified procedures and internal control weaknesses to ensure they are addressed by its regional offices.

FTA's Office of Program Oversight develops and implements a comprehensive national oversight program to ensure that funding recipients remain compliant with the requirements of FTA’s assistance programs. To foster stewardship of federal funds, the office institutes oversight performance metrics, analyzes nationwide recipient compliance trends, and develops and implements technical assistance and training tools and events based on grantee oversight trend analysis.

Future payment integrity outlook

Federal Transit Administration Transit Infrastructure Grants - COVID Relief Funds has established a baseline.

The reduction target aligns with the Organizational Excellence strategic objective within the Department's Strategic Plan to ensure responsible and transparent stewardship public resources. The plan includes a performance goal to achieve a 99% payment accuracy rate to demonstrate robust internal controls at both the Federal and grant recipient levels.

Out-Year improper payment and unknown payment projections and target
Current year +1 estimated future outlays $11,168 M
Current year +1 estimated future improper payments $111.68 M
Current year +1 estimated future unknown payments $0 M
Current year +1 estimated future improper payment and unknown payment rate 1.0 %
Current year +1 estimated future improper payment and unknown payment reduction target 1.0 %

The program's current year improper payment and unknown payment rate of 2.07 % may or may not be the tolerable rate. The agency has not yet determined the tolerable rate for this program.

The program consists of three emergency appropriations that provided relief to transit agencies in the form of funding for ongoing operations rather than capital investments. Spending from the COVID relief funds peaked in FY 2022 and outlays are projected to decrease in subsequent fiscal years. As these funds are exhausted, the risk of improper payments will be reduced commensurate with the level of remaining funding.

At the Federal level, the program has what is needed with respect to internal controls, human capital, and information systems to reduce improper payments and unknown payments to the tolerable rate.

The purpose of FTA's Administrative Expenses budget is to provide resources to carry out FTA’s mission to support safe and high-quality public transportation systems that ensure access and mobility to the nation and its citizens. These resources support salaries, benefits, travel, rent, communications, printing, contracts, supplies, equipment and all other administrative and operational costs that allow FTA to manage and oversee approximately $100 billion in active transit grants annually and achieve its strategic mission.

FTA plans to utilize Transit Formula Grants Oversight funding for the development, modernization, and enhancement (DME), and operations and maintenance (O&M) of the Transit Award Management System (TrAMS). TrAMS is FTA’s flagship grant-making system, and supports FTA’s grantmaking mission by providing efficient automation, tracking, and visibility functionality in grant-making activities.

Additional programmatic information

FTA’s Transit Infrastructure Grants – COVID Relief Funds includes funding provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 (CRRSAA), and American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) to support the nation’s public transportation systems as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program is susceptible to significant improper payments and plans to report a phase 2 estimate for FY 2024.

  • FY 2024 improper payment estimates

    Chart legend and breakdown

    Payment accuracy rate

    Improper payment rate

    Unknown payment rate


    Sampling & estimation methodology details

    Sampling timeframe:

    10/2022 - 09/2023


    Confidence interval:

    95% to <100%


    Margin of error:

    +/-2.73

  • Actions taken & planned to mitigate improper payments

    Mitigation strategy Description of the corrective action Completion date Status
    Training
    FTA held payment integrity training with its regional offices and select transit authorities at the onset of the sampling and estimation review. FTA also advised and recovered overpayments from grant recipients with identified FY 2023 improper payments of the requirements to correct future reimbursement requests.
    FY2024 Q3
    Completed
    Training
    FTA will work with grant recipients to improve project documentation and/or payment processes, or address training deficiencies as applicable for each improper payment. If applicable, FTA will recover overpayments from the grant recipient.
    FY2025
    Planned

Overpayments

Overpayment root cause Overpayment amount
Amount of overpayments within the agency's control $0.0 M

Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) Transit Infrastructure Grants - COVID Relief Fund overpayments are outside of FTA control when grant recipients make administrative errors. Grant recipients must administer Federal transit funds within statutory requirements and in accordance with FTA regulations. Grant recipients certify to FTA that they have the ability and intention to meet these requirements. Whereas grant recipients are responsible for the administration of federal assistance, FTA is responsible, primarily through its regional offices, for ensuring compliance with Federal requirements and proper use of Federal funds.
Overpayment root cause Overpayment amount
Amount of overpayments outside the agency's control $151.51 M
Amount of overpayments that occurred because the data/information needed to validate payment accuracy prior to making a payment does not exist $0.0 M
The amount of overpayments that occurred because of an inability to access the data/information needed to validate payment accuracy prior to making a payment $0.0 M
The amount of overpayments that occurred because of a failure to access data/information needed to validate payment accuracy prior to making a payment $151.51 M

Overpayment type Eligibility element/information needed Eligibility amount
Overpayments Outside Agency Control Receiving Benefits from Other Sources $151.51 M

Underpayments

Underpayment root cause Underpayment amount
Amount of underpayments $0.1 M
The amount of underpayments that occurred because the data/information needed to validate payment accuracy prior to making a payment does not exist $0.0 M
The amount of underpayments that occurred because of an inability to access the data/information needed to validate payment accuracy prior to making a payment $0.0 M
The amount of underpayments that occurred because of a failure to access data/information needed to validate payment accuracy prior to making a payment $0.1 M

Eligibility element/information needed Eligibility amount
Receiving Benefits from Other Sources $0.1 M

Mitigation strategies taken Mitigation strategies planned
Training Training

Technically improper payments

The amount of improper payments that were paid to the right recipient for the correct amount but were considered technically improper because of failure to follow statute or regulation $0.0 M

Additional information

$0.1 M

Unknown Payment Details

Evaluation of corrective actions

FTA's Office of Budget and Policy monitors PIIA findings and corrective actions to address identified procedures and internal control weaknesses to ensure they are addressed by its regional offices.

FTA's Office of Program Oversight develops and implements a comprehensive national oversight program to ensure that funding recipients remain compliant with the requirements of FTA’s assistance programs.
To foster stewardship of federal funds, the office institutes oversight performance metrics, analyzes nationwide recipient compliance trends, and develops and implements technical assistance and training tools and events based on grantee oversight trend analysis.

The program consists of three emergency appropriations that provided relief to transit agencies in the form of funding for ongoing operations rather than capital investments. Spending from the COVID relief funds peaked in FY 2022 and outlays are projected to decrease in subsequent fiscal years. As these funds are exhausted, the risk of improper payments will be reduced commensurate with the level of remaining funding.

The primary root cause for the program's improper payments is the timing when transit operating expenses became eligible for reimbursement. The COVID relief funds provided existing programs with new eligibilities, including transit operating funding in areas formerly only permitted for capital expenses. Per statute, only costs incurred for the period beginning January 20, 2020 may be reimbursed under the expanded eligibilities. Training and increased awareness will inform grant recipient that their processes and procedures need to accommodate the statutory requirements of COVID relief funding.

In implementing and prioritizing the corrective actions, FTA considered the observations and remediation recommendations from FY 2023 testing and projected decrease of COVID-funded outlays. FTA placed emphasis ongoing training to strengthen controls and staff knowledge at the regional offices and recipient levels to improve project documentation and/or payment processes.

Future payment integrity outlook

Federal Transit Administration Transit Infrastructure Grants - COVID Relief Funds has established a baseline.

The reduction target aligns with the Organizational Excellence strategic objective within the Department's Strategic Plan to ensure responsible and transparent stewardship public resources. The plan includes a performance goal to achieve a 99% payment accuracy rate to demonstrate robust internal controls at both the Federal and grant recipient levels.

Out-Year improper payment and unknown payment projections and target
Current year +1 estimated future outlays $4,275 M
Current year +1 estimated future improper payments $42.75 M
Current year +1 estimated future unknown payments $0 M
Current year +1 estimated future improper payment and unknown payment rate 1.0 %
Current year +1 estimated future improper payment and unknown payment reduction target 1.0 %

The program's current year improper payment and unknown payment rate of 1.56 % may or may not be the tolerable rate. The agency has not yet determined the tolerable rate for this program.

The program consists of three emergency appropriations that provided relief to transit agencies in the form of funding for ongoing operations rather than capital investments. Spending from the COVID relief funds peaked in FY 2022 and outlays are projected to decrease in subsequent fiscal years. As these funds are exhausted, the risk of improper payments will be reduced commensurate with the level of remaining funding.

At the Federal level, the program has what is needed with respect to internal controls, human capital, and information systems to reduce improper payments and unknown payments to the tolerable rate.

The purpose of FTA's Administrative Expenses budget is to provide resources to carry out FTA’s mission to support safe and high-quality public transportation systems that ensure access and mobility to the nation and its citizens. These resources support salaries, benefits, travel, rent, communications, printing, contracts, supplies, equipment and all other administrative and operational costs that allow FTA to manage and oversee approximately $100 billion in active transit grants annually and achieve its strategic mission.

FTA plans to utilize Transit Formula Grants Oversight funding for the development, modernization, and enhancement (DME), and operations and maintenance (O&M) of the Transit Award Management System (TrAMS). TrAMS is FTA’s flagship grant-making system, and supports FTA’s grantmaking mission by providing efficient automation, tracking, and visibility functionality in grant-making activities.

Additional programmatic information

FTA’s Transit Infrastructure Grants – COVID Relief Funds includes funding provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 (CRRSAA), and American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) to support the nation’s public transportation systems as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program is susceptible to significant improper payments and plans to report a phase 2 estimate for FY 2025.

Accountability for detecting, preventing, and recovering improper payments

DOT’s Deputy Chief Financial Officer (DCFO) is the senior accountable official responsible for completion of the improper payments related remediation plans. The DCFO’s performance plan contains accountability mechanisms, which include closure of corrective actions associated with improper payment remediation plans.

At the agency-level, FTA’s Chief Financial Officer oversees FTA’s Office of Budget and Policy which administers the implementation of the Administration’s PIIA requirements. This office develops improper payment reduction targets, implements corrective actions, and coordinates the recapture of improper payments identified during PIIA reviews. The Office of Budget and Policy works with FTA oversight and regional offices to hold recipients accountable on the closure of corrective actions associated with improper payment remediation plans.

For FTA, the grant development stage, before award and obligation of Federal funds, is critical to program and payment integrity. During this stage, FTA personnel verify that only eligible and allowable activities are included in the grant. After grant award and obligation of FTA funds, the recipient certifies compliance with applicable Federal requirements annually, compliance with requirements is confirmed via FTA’s oversight processes, and FTA regional offices track and monitor deficiencies to ensure the recipient implements corrective action.

FTA manages several oversight programs covering transit safety, its many grant programs, more than 1,000 grantees, and thousands of projects, including major capital projects over $1 billion, as well as mid-size and smaller projects. FTA’s Office of Program Oversight develops and implements a comprehensive national oversight program to ensure that funding recipients remain compliant with the requirements of assistance programs. To foster stewardship of federal funds, the office institutes oversight performance metrics, analyzes nationwide recipient compliance trends, and develops and implements technical assistance and training tools and events based on grantee oversight trend analysis. Types of oversight reviews include: Triennial Reviews (mandated compliance reviews); State Management Reviews; Procurement System Reviews; and Financial Management Oversight Reviews.

  • FY 2025 improper payment estimates

    Chart legend and breakdown

    Payment accuracy rate

    Improper payment rate

    Unknown payment rate


    Sampling & estimation methodology details

    Sampling timeframe:

    10/2023 - 09/2024


    Confidence interval:

    95% to <100%


    Margin of error:

    +/-0.27

Causes

FTA improper payments are all overpayments outside of agency control due to failure to access data/information from Transit Authorities. In total, there are 7 identified FTA Improper Payments grouped into 3 root causes. Grantee was reimbursed for a cost that was not supported by payroll documentation. Grantee was reimbursed for a cost that was not supported by contract documentation, and the unit price exceeded the contract amount. Grantee was reimbursed for a cost incurred for health insurance premium; however, the grantee did not provide the proof of payment for the benefits or the correct rate information or invoice from the insurance provider.

FTA will work with grant recipients to improve project documentation and/or payment processes, or address training deficiencies as applicable for each improper payment. If applicable, FTA will proceed to recover overpayments from the grant recipient. Specific remediation recommendations include informing Transit Authorities to maintain their payroll records, ensuring that costs are supported by required contract support documentation prior to approving reimbursement requests, and advising Transit Authorities to maintain copies of their approved insurance supporting documentation.

Overpayment root cause Overpayment amount
Amount of overpayments within the agency's control $0.0 M
Amount of overpayments outside the agency's control $8.36 M
Amount of overpayments that occurred because the data/information needed to validate payment accuracy prior to making a payment does not exist $0.0 M
Amount of overpayments that occurred because of an inability to access the data/information needed to validate payment accuracy prior to making a payment $0.0 M
Amount of overpayments that occurred because of a failure to access data/information needed to validate payment accuracy prior to making a payment $8.36 M

Underpayment root cause Underpayment amount
Amount of underpayments $0.0 M

The amount of improper payments that were paid to the right recipient for the correct amount but were considered technically improper because of failure to follow statute or regulation $0.0 M

The amount that could either be proper or improper but the agency is unable to determine whether it was proper or improper as a result of insufficient or lack of documentation $0.0 M

Prevention

FTA will work with grant recipients to improve project documentation and/or payment processes, or address training deficiencies as applicable for each improper payment. If applicable, FTA will recover overpayments from the grant recipient.
FTA's Office of Budget and Policy monitors PIIA findings and corrective actions to address identified procedures and internal control weaknesses to ensure they are addressed by its regional offices. FTA's Office of Program Oversight develops and implements a comprehensive national oversight program to ensure that funding recipients remain compliant with the requirements of FTA’s assistance programs. To foster stewardship of federal funds, the office institutes oversight performance metrics, analyzes nationwide recipient compliance trends, and develops and implements technical assistance and training tools and events based on grantee oversight trend analysis.

There are 3 root causes of FTA Improper Payments. Grantee was reimbursed for a cost that was not supported by payroll documentation. Grantee was reimbursed for a cost that was not supported by contract documentation, and the unit price exceeded the contract amount. Grantee was reimbursed for a cost incurred for health insurance premium; however, the grantee did not provide the proof of payment for the benefits or the correct rate information or invoice from the insurance provider.

FTA will work with grant recipients to improve project documentation and/or payment processes, or address training deficiencies as applicable for each improper payment. If applicable, FTA will recover overpayments from the grant recipient.

Payment type Mitigation strategies taken Mitigation strategies planned
Overpayments Training Training

Eligibility element/information needed Description of the eligbility element/information
Receiving Benefits from Other Sources Beneficiary or recipient is receiving benefits from an additional source

Additional information

FTA’s Transit Infrastructure Grants – COVID Relief Funds includes funding provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 (CRRSAA), and American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) to support the nation’s public transportation systems as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. FTA COVID Relief Fund disbursements peaked in FY 2022. As these funds are exhausted, the risk of improper payments is reduced commensurate with level of remaining fundings. Hence, FTA does not plan to report a phase 2 estimate for FY 2026 since the risk of future improper payments is below the levels defined as susceptible to significant improper payments.

Reduction target

0.1 %

At the Federal level, the program has what is needed with respect to internal controls, human capital, and information systems to reduce improper payments and unknown payments to the tolerable rate.

The purpose of FTA's Administrative Expenses budget is to provide resources to carry out FTA’s mission to support safe and high-quality public transportation systems that ensure access and mobility to the nation and its citizens. These resources support salaries, benefits, travel, rent, communications, printing, contracts, supplies, equipment and all other administrative and operational costs that allow FTA to manage and oversee approximately $100 billion in active transit grants annually and achieve its strategic mission. FTA plans to utilize Transit Formula Grants Oversight funding for the development, modernization, and enhancement (DME), and operations and maintenance (O&M) of the Transit Award Management System(TrAMS). TrAMS is FTA’s flagship grant-making system, and supports FTA’s grantmaking mission by providing efficient automation, tracking, and visibility functionality in grant-making activities.

DOT’s Deputy Chief Financial Officer (DCFO) is the senior accountable official responsible for completion of the improper payments related remediation plans. The DCFO’s performance plan contains accountability mechanisms, which include closure of corrective actions associated with improper payment remediation plans. At the agency-level, FTA’s Chief Financial Officer oversees FTA’s Office of Budget and Policy which administers the implementation of the Administration’s PIIA requirements. This office develops improper payment reduction targets, implements corrective actions, and coordinates the recapture of improper payments identified during PIIA reviews. The Office of Budget and Policy works with FTA oversight and regional offices to hold recipients accountable on the closure of corrective actions associated with improper payment remediation plans. For FTA, the grant development stage, before award and obligation of Federal funds, is critical to program and payment integrity. During this stage, FTA personnel verify that only eligible and allowable activities are included in the grant. After grant award and obligation of FTA funds, the recipient certifies compliance with applicable Federal requirements annually, compliance with requirements is confirmed via FTA’s oversight processes, and FTA regional offices track and monitor deficiencies to ensure the recipient implements corrective action. FTA manages several oversight programs covering transit safety, its many grant programs, more than 1,000 grantees, and thousands of projects, including major capital projects over $1 billion, as well as mid-size and smaller projects. FTA’s Office of Program Oversight develops and implements a comprehensive national oversight program to ensure that funding recipients remain compliant with the requirements of assistance programs. To foster stewardship of federal funds, the office institutes oversight performance metrics, analyzes nationwide recipient compliance trends, and develops and implements technical assistance and training tools and events based on grantee oversight trend analysis. Types of oversight reviews include: Triennial Reviews (mandated compliance reviews); State Management Reviews; Procurement System Reviews; and Financial Management Oversight Reviews.

$0 M