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GLOSSARY OF TERMS Abuse of Authority Intentional
or improper use of Government resources. Examples include misuse
of rank, position, or authority or misuse of resources such as tools, vehicles,
or copying machines. Audit An independent objective analysis,
review, or evaluation of financial, records, procedures, and activities
to report conditions found, and recommend changes, or other actions for
management and operating officials to consider. The term audit includes,
in addition to the auditor's examinations of financial statements, work
performed in reviewing compliance with applicable laws and regulations,
economy and efficiency of operations, and effectiveness in achieving program
results. All audit work is accomplished in accordance with audit
standards set forth in "Standards for Audit in Governmental Organizations,
Programs, Activities, and Functions," issued by the Comptroller General
of the United States. Inquiry An informal administrative
investigation or gathering of information through interview or interrogation
rather than by inspection or study of available evidence. An inquiry
does not preclude the gathering of available documentary evidence. Investigation A systematic,
minute, and thorough attempt to ascertain the facts about something complex
or hidden. It is often formal and official. Preliminary Analysis The activity
necessary to determine if the allegation or information received warrants
further examination, or lacks the credibility to merit additional action.
The preliminary inquiry effort may be limited to an interview of the source
of the complaint, and/or a witness or reference provided in the allegation,
or review of any readily available documentation or records relative to
the complaint. Fraud Any intentional deception designed
to deprive the United States unlawfully of something of value or to secure
from the United States for an individual a benefit, privilege, allowance,
or consideration to which he or she is not entitled. Such practices
include, but are not limited to, the offer, payment, or acceptance of
bribes or gratuities; making false statements; submitting false claims;
using false weights or measures; evading or corrupting inspectors or other
officials; deceit either by suppressing the truth or misrepresenting material
fact; adulterating or substituting materials; falsifying records and books
of accounts; arranging for secret profits, kickbacks, or commissions;
and conspiring to use any of these devices. The term also includes
conflict of interest cases, criminal irregularities, and the unauthorized
disclosure of official information relating to procurement and disposal
matters. Independence The state or quality
of being free from subjection or from the influence, control, or guidance
of individuals, things, or situations. As applied to examining officials
and their respective organizations, there is a responsibility for maintaining
neutrality and exercising objectivity so that opinions, judgments, conclusions,
and recommendations on examined allegations are impartial and shall be
viewed as impartial by disinterested third parties. Mismanagement A collective
term covering acts of waste and abuse. Extravagant, careless,
or needless expenditure of Government funds or the consumption or misuse
of Government property or resources, resulting from deficient practices,
systems, controls, or decisions. Abuse of authority or similar actions
that do not involve criminal fraud. Waste The extravagant careless, or
needless expenditure of Government funds, or the consumption of Government
property that results from deficient practices, systems, controls, or
decisions. The term also includes improper practices not involving
prosecutable fraud.
Bribery is the giving, offering, promising, soliciting, demanding, receiving or accepting, directly or indirectly, with wrongful or dishonest intent, anything of value, to or by a public official, to influence an official act or public official to commit fraud or violate the law, or testimony as a public official, in return for being influenced, to perform such actions. Bribery is a violation of 18 U.S.C. Section 201. Gifts From/To Superiors. Prohibited financial interests
Theft and abuse of Government property
Normally, reports of theft of Government property should be reported to
the law enforcement authorities at the particular installation in question.
The military police, Defense police, and military criminal investigative
organizations are responsible to investigate thefts and misappropriation
of Government property. We will however, accept certain reports
of Government property theft dependent on the circumstances surrounding
your knowledge of the offense in question. Spare parts overpricing The
Defense Hotline will either accept a complaint of overpriced spare parts
or we will refer you to the appropriate point of contact (press "back"
on your internet browser to return to this page) at the cognizant
Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) supply center, dependent on the spare part
in question. At a minimum, we will need the NSN in order to assist
you with overpricing problems. The DLA uses codes established in
the Defense Logistics Management Standards (DLMS). Each item in
the Federal Supply System is assigned to a specific Source of Supply (SOS)
for management. Federal Stock Codes (FSC) indicate that either DLA
or GSA has been designated as the integrated material manager at the wholesale
level for one or more consumable items of supply in the FSC. The
SOS must be determined for individual National Stock Numbers (NSN) to
obtain specific information on that specific item. |