Currently the NPFTF Sub-Committee for Grant Fraud is working with the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) to develop a grant fraud specialized course.
Procurement Fraud Courses
The following is a partial list of federal agencies sponsored procurement fraud related training courses. The list is applicable to a variety of disciplines including auditors, investigators, contract support, contracting officers and lawyers with an interest in procurement fraud. This list is not all-inclusive and does not include the various basic training courses, which all covers procurement fraud at varying degrees. Please forward any suggestions for additions to caulfiet@nro.mil for consideration. Potential trainees should contact the training sponsor directly for additional information.
This 3-day training program will provide the auditor, analyst, or inspector with tools to conduct more effective interviews, in order to better prevent and detect fraud. Instruction will consist of non-confrontational interview techniques, fraud indicators, methods to assess procurement fraud vulnerability, common procurement fraud schemes, and how to elicit potential fraud leads. Students will be taught Fraud Vulnerability Assessment Questions. These questions are uniquely structured, non-accusatory, non-threatening, information gathering, and designed to identify indicators of fraud.
IG Public Corruption Investigations Training Program (IG-PCITP)
This 4-day training program is designed to instruct the investigator in the procedures, techniques and legal issues associated with investigating allegations of employee and agency corruption. This program will provide the investigator with the fundamentals of working several types of internal and public corruption cases. Topics covered include (1) Public Corruption Statutes and Schemes; (2) Indicators of Public Corruption; (3) Considerations for Employee Interviews; (4) Source Development; (5) Special Concerns and Strategies; (6) Investigative Tools and Techniques; (7) Public Corruption Case Studies; (8) A Defense Perspective; and (9) The role and responsibilities of various entities involved in public corruption investigations.
National Suspension and Debarment Training Program (NSDTP)
The National Suspension and Debarment Training Program is a comprehensive, three-day training program designed for Federal law enforcement officers, agency counsel, prosecutors, auditors and analysts who hare involved in contract or grant fraud investigations or prosecutions. Suspension or disbarment are administrative remedies that may be useful tools in contract and grant fraud investigations. Taught by a staff of professional attorneys who have served as debarring officials, investigators, and agents, this course provides a complete overview of the suspension and debarment process.
The Financial Investigations Branch of the Computer and Financial Investigations Division at FLETC is in the process of developing a number of new programs, which they hope will be available in FY 2008.
Procurement Fraud Investigation Training Program (PFITP)
This 8 and a half day program was designed for investigators (both criminal and non-criminal), auditors, analysts, and prosecutors who desire further training in the investigation of procurement fraud type offenses. These types of investigations require an in-depth knowledge of the Government procurement process to identify where in the procurement cycle the alleged violations have occurred, and what documents are required to support these allegations. Successful completion of the PFITP will enable students to (1) identify in which phase of the five phases of the Government procurement process the alleged violations have occurred and what scheme was utilized to perpetrate the offense; (2) identify various investigative techniques that may be utilized to obtain the required documentation to support the allegation(s) from both the Government files as well as the contractor's records; (3) identify what steps in the investigative process are necessary to successfully document the violation; (4) identify and select investigative team members, define their duties and responsibilities; (5) demonstrate how to present these complex investigations to both prosecutors and administrative officials; and (6) demonstrate how case organization and presentation tools may be used to organize and present their investigation.
Product Substitution Investigations Training Program (PSITP)
This 4 and a half day program was designed to meet a need for specialized training in product substitution investigations. This program focuses on product substitution, which is one type of procurement fraud. This program is designed for investigators (both criminal and non-criminal), auditors, analysts, and prosecutors who desire further training in the investigation of product substitution type offenses. These types of investigations require knowledge of the Government procurement process to identify the procurement documentation and contract requirements, which supports these allegations. Successful completion of the PSITP will enable students to (1) identify and describe the acquisition methods used by the Government, governing statutes, primary government contracting personnel and the five phases of the government contracting process; (2) identify the criminal violations involved in product substitution investigations; (3) identify what civil or administrative remedies are available to the investigator in lieu of criminal prosecution; (4) identify the factors to be considered in evaluating an allegation of product substitution and conduct an analysis of the complaint and the complainant to make an initial observation of the validity of the allegation; (5) identify what documents need to be reviewed in the contract file that will support or refute the allegation; (6) identify how to develop an investigative approach to product substitution fraud; (7) identify issues involved in dealing with prosecutors and fraud counsel in product substitution cases.
Proposed Programs
Introduction to Fraud Investigation Training Program (IFITP)(8.5 days)
This DAU course for the most part, focuses on the legal considerations and implications that one may encounter during an award and administration of a contract. While this course will introduce some to the more common legal considerations, it also has one section on contract fraud.
This three-day course provides basic instruction on the legal and practical aspects of developing an installation procurement fraud program. The course focuses on advising installation and agency contracting and investigatory personnel regarding procurement fraud matters; and proper and timely referral of procurement fraud matters to appropriate agencies.
This two-day course is offered four times a year. The possibility of fraud in government procurement presents a constant risk. Learn to recognize the indicators of procurement fraud in different government contracts and to develop audit strategies to identify and quantify the extent of fraud in specific government contracting programs. Actual examples from past procurement fraud cases illustrate traditional fraud schemes involving false statements, false claims, product substitution, accounting frauds and minority/woman/small business front operations. Focus on identifying the indicators of fraud, as well as criminal, civil, administrative and contractual definitions and responses to fraud. You also explore fraud issues related to the growing government involvement in e-Commerce
Making Your Case to Prosecute Fraud (AUDT8090G)
This two-day course is offered three times a year. Fraud is a booming business today. With fraud schemes becoming more sophisticated and defense attorneys more proactive, there is a need for more interaction among auditors, investigators and prosecutors. Often task forces are assembled for this purpose. Learn how each team member contributes to the success of such joint efforts and special rules and procedures that apply in obtaining evidence to substantiate and prosecute fraud. Auditors learn the pitfalls to avoid in pursuing fraud on their own and how to discern whether a potential fraud scheme they have identified in an ongoing audit may be prosecutable.
Prevention and Detection of Fraud (AUDT8002G)
At this three-day course learn the nature, causes and types of white-collar crimes and your professional audit responsibilities for designing audit procedures to detect them. Identify the legal and layman's definitions of fraud and understand audit procedures applicable to fraud detection. Learn the role of internal controls in preventing fraud and how to evaluate internal controls. Discuss reporting of illegal acts and working with an investigator.
This 1:30 hours course describes various types of fraud and their consequences. It also lists the legislation and regulatory bodies that monitor organizations and their financial reporting processes. In addition, the course describes your responsibilities as a manager or employee in fighting fraud in your organization.
Overview of conducting fraud investigations: 8 days; currently being developed; for more information contact SOMEONE or visit the FLETC website at SOMETHING.
National Suspension and Debarment
Examination of suspension and debarment authority in contracts and grants; 3 days; approx. $548.35, including housing and meals; for more information contact SOMEONE or visit the FLETC website at SOMETHING.