Internal Audit News
Announcements from the Office of Internal Audit.
12-09-2015 - 15-111 - Friedman Recycling of Albuquerque, LLC – Contract Revenue
The citizens of Albuquerque have an opportunity to increase the City’s recycling revenue and reduce expenses by increasing the overall weight of recycled commodities, focusing recycling efforts on those commodities that have higher index pricing and reducing the amount of residual/contaminated materials placed in recycling bins.The City’s recycling program and contract with Friedman have been successful. Since 2011, more than 91,000 tons (over 182 million pounds) of recyclable materials have been diverted from the landfill and delivered to Friedman to be recycled. Without the recycling program of today, those materials would be taking up space in the landfill, increasing the City’s disposal costs, and increasing greenhouse gas emissions. By continuing to educate and increase participation in the recycling program, the City, through its contract with Friedman, may further reap the benefits of recycling such as saving energy and resources.
12-09-2015 - 15-104 - Performance Audit - Printer/Copier Security - Citywide
DTI should take additional steps to increase security on networked printer/copiers and other multifunction devices. DTI should also take steps to increase awareness of information technology security policies and specific risks posed by networked printer/copiers. Enhancements should be made to processes for departmental purchasing, leasing, and maintenance of printer/copiers. Going forward, printer/copiers should not be connected to the network unless accompanied by a DTI Service Now request. All devices on the network should be documented in a master list, which identifies any devices with hard drives. Procedures should be enhanced to ensure that hard drives on leased printer/copiers are properly erased before being sent back to the vendor or being replaced.
10-28-2015 - 15-101 - Vendor Performance Audit - Citywide – B&D Industries, Inc.
Numerous contract requirements were not met by B&D. As a result, the City was overcharged on some invoices, formal authorization to start work was not obtained by B&D, cost estimates were not provided prior to the performance of services, and subcontractors performed work on City facilities without City approval. B&D and the City should work together to increase compliance with contract terms.
10-28-2015 - 15-101 - Contract Performance Audit - Citywide – B&D Industries, Inc.
Numerous contract requirements, which were not met by B&D, remained unnoticed by the City’s user departments. As a result, the City was overcharged on some invoices, cost estimates were not consistently obtained prior to the performance of services, subcontractors performed work on City facilities without City approval, important information was not provided consistently or maintained by user departments, and the City’s risk was not properly mitigated for large projects. Additionally, formal authorization to start work was not provided to B&D timely by City departments. DFAS-Purchasing and DMD should work together to provide information needed by City user departments to increase compliance with contract terms.
10-28-15 - 15-110 - Performance Audit - Citywide – Staffing Agency Vendor Contract Compliance - Select Staffing
Between FY 2010 and FY 2015, the City paid Select Staffing approximately $29.5 million to provide temporary staffing agency employees to help supplement the City’s workforce. As part of the contract, Select Staffing is required to comply with the terms that are detailed in the contract and RFB. However, based on the testing and review results of this audit there are several areas where Select Staffing is not following the contract and RFB terms. Select Staffing is not ensuring that the information on the invoices and periodic reports is always accurate, which has led to incorrect billing rates being listed. In addition, by not ensuring information on invoices and reports is accurate, Select Staffing hinders the City’s ability to perform proper reviews of the information. Select Staffing is also not ensuring that approved request forms are maintained for every staffing agency position filled at the City. By not maintaining these records Select Staffing could cause unapproved costs to be incurred, which may not be paid by the City when staffing agency employees are not properly approved before working. In addition, Select Staffing is not ensuring that the staffing agency employees they send to fill City positions have the proper qualifications for the job duties. This could potentially cause a liability for the City if staffing agency employees perform job duties they do not have the proper training for. Finally, Select Staffing is not pulling staffing agency employees from positions after they have been at the City for more than two consecutive years. This could cause a potential liability for the City if staffing agency employees, who have been used at the City for a continuous two-year period, feel that they are due permanent City employee benefits. It is imperative that Select Staffing ensure all contract and RFB terms are being complied with, and that all information sent to the City is accurate and complete.