ES, IG-99-015, Home-to-Work Use of Vehicles

HOME-TO-WORK USE OF VEHICLES
IG-99-015

Executive Summary

Background
NASA Centers maintain fleets of general-purpose vehicles to meet basic transportation needs for NASA and contractor personnel.⁽¹⁾ Federal law and regulations restrict use of Government vehicles to the conduct of official business and provide guidance on the appropriate use of vehicles. Currently, Federal law and regulations generally prohibit home-to-work use of Government vehicles. However, some limited exceptions to the general prohibition are permitted with the approval of the Agency head. The Centers have established local policies or practices that supplement Agency guidance on the use of vehicles.

Objectives
The overall objective of the audit was to evaluate the effectiveness of NASA's Government vehicle program. Specifically, we determined whether four NASA Centers⁽²⁾ complied with the law and regulations governing home-to-work use of Government vehicles. Additional information on the objectives, scope, and methodology is in Appendix A.

Results of Audit
All four Centers had instances of improperly authorized home-to-work use of Government vehicles. We found no indication of fraud, waste, or abuse in the approvals granted; the officials who made the determinations did so based on faulty policies that did not ensure the required approvals were obtained. As a result, Agency use of Government vehicles has not complied with Federal law and regulations that limit home-to-work vehicle use.
The General Services Administration (GSA) is proposing an amendment to the statutory requirements governing home-to-work use of Government vehicles. The amendment would permit delegations of approval for home-to-work vehicle use below the level of agency head so that determinations could more readily be made when such vehicle usage is in the best interest of the Government.
During the audit, we issued an overall related report on the Centers' vehicle acquisition and use, a report to MSFC, and a management letter to GSFC (see Appendix B).

Recommendations
We recommended that NASA support GSA's efforts to amend the law governing home-to-work use of vehicles and that the Centers revise policies and establish procedures to ensure compliance with Federal law and regulations.

Management's Response
Management concurred with all recommendations and will take actions to support GSA's efforts and to ensure compliance with the law and regulations governing home-to-work use of Government vehicles.

FOOTNOTES

1. Based on a review at the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex, the Assistant Inspector General for Inspections, Administrative Investigations, and Assessments, is preparing a report specifically on contractor home-to-work use of Government vehicles.

2. Glenn Research Center (GRC), Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Kennedy Space Center (KSC), and Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC).

Background	NASA Centers maintain fleets of general-purpose vehicles to meet basic transportation needs for NASA and contractor personnel.⁽¹⁾ Federal law and regulations restrict use of Government vehicles to the conduct of official business and provide guidance on the appropriate use of vehicles. Currently, Federal law and regulations generally prohibit home-to-work use of Government vehicles. However, some limited exceptions to the general prohibition are permitted with the approval of the Agency head. The Centers have established local policies or practices that supplement Agency guidance on the use of vehicles.
Objectives	The overall objective of the audit was to evaluate the effectiveness of NASA's Government vehicle program. Specifically, we determined whether four NASA Centers⁽²⁾ complied with the law and regulations governing home-to-work use of Government vehicles. Additional information on the objectives, scope, and methodology is in Appendix A.
Results of Audit	All four Centers had instances of improperly authorized home-to-work use of Government vehicles. We found no indication of fraud, waste, or abuse in the approvals granted; the officials who made the determinations did so based on faulty policies that did not ensure the required approvals were obtained. As a result, Agency use of Government vehicles has not complied with Federal law and regulations that limit home-to-work vehicle use. The General Services Administration (GSA) is proposing an amendment to the statutory requirements governing home-to-work use of Government vehicles. The amendment would permit delegations of approval for home-to-work vehicle use below the level of agency head so that determinations could more readily be made when such vehicle usage is in the best interest of the Government. During the audit, we issued an overall related report on the Centers' vehicle acquisition and use, a report to MSFC, and a management letter to GSFC (see Appendix B).
Recommendations	We recommended that NASA support GSA's efforts to amend the law governing home-to-work use of vehicles and that the Centers revise policies and establish procedures to ensure compliance with Federal law and regulations.
Management's Response	Management concurred with all recommendations and will take actions to support GSA's efforts and to ensure compliance with the law and regulations governing home-to-work use of Government vehicles.