06/24/2020
152-19058
Conflict of Interest
The Florida Department of Transportation (Department), Office of Inspector General (OIG) received a complaint wherein an individual expressed
concerns regarding a conflict of interest in the selection process for a Department contract. Specifically, the complainant alleged that members of the Technical Review Committee (TRC) were "biased" against them
and as a result, did not select their representative company. The OIG reviewed emails and documents related to the procurement of the contract, and interviewed members of the TRC for this contract. The OIG found
no evidence of impropriety in the procurement process for the contract. As such, this inquiry was administratively closed. |
06/17/2020
152-19186
Employee Misconduct
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) received a complaint wherein it was alleged that a Department employee was directing subordinate staff to
carry out tasks that the complainant described as "illegal" to include instructing contractors to perform work on projects outside the scope of an existing project/contract and requesting materials be taken from
one project and placed on another project. The OIG found no evidence to support the allegations presented by the complainant. Accordingly, this inquiry was categorized as administratively closed. |
06/08/2020
152-17032
Contract Management and Conflict of Interest
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) received a complaint wherein a Whistle-blower reported various issues related to
a Department contract and the related project, which was Final Accepted in 2015. Additionally, the Whistle-blower reported a potential conflict of interest on the part of a (now former) Department employee regarding
the procurement of Department contracts. Based on interviews conducted and documents reviewed, the OIG determined then-Department leadership inappropriately handled aspects of a Department contract, to include procurement,
inspection, and Final Acceptance. The OIG further determined a conflict of interest existed regarding the (now former) Department employee regarding the procurement of Department contracts. |
05/26/2020
150-19131
Contract Fraud
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) received information wherein it was reported that a department contractor was submitting invoices for work that
had not been completed on an Asset Maintenance contract. The OIG conducted a review of the contract and related procurement documents and contractor performance evaluation reports. The OIG did not find any evidence
to support the allegation of fraudulent billing by the contractor. Additionally, district management was aware of the issues raised, and is continuing to work with the contractor to address the issues. As such,
no further action by the OIG is required, and this inquiry has been administratively closed. |
05/26/2020
150-19064
Employee Misconduct
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) received a complaint wherein it was alleged that a department consultant was fraudulently billing hours
to a department contract. Based on documents reviewed and interviews conducted, the OIG did not find any evidence to support fraudulent billing by the consultant. As such, this inquiry was categorized as administratively
closed.
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12/26/2019
150-19002
Bid Rigging on Department Contract
The Florida Department of Transportation (department), Office of Inspector General (OIG), received a complaint from a department
contractor who expressed concerns that two competing contractors may be engaged in bid rigging and/or collusion on a department maintenance contract. The OIG conducted interviews with the contractors and department
employees regarding the allegations, and reviewed contracts previously let involving the contractors. The OIG did not find any evidence to support the allegation of bid rigging and/or collusion on the part of the
competing contractors. Accordingly, the OIG considers the matter closed. |
12/20/2019
152-19182
Misuse of Information Technology Resources
The Florida Department of Transportation (department) Office of Inspector General (OIG) received correspondence from department
management requesting assistance regarding a possible violation of the department's Security and Use of Information Technology Resources (SUITR) policy by a department employee. The OIG conducted interviews of the
employee, and performed a forensic examination and analysis of the employee's assigned department laptop. The OIG found no evidence that the employee violated the department's SUITR policy. Additionally, the employee
voluntarily separated from the department. Accordingly, the OIG considers this matter closed. |
12/20/2019
152-19185
Misuse of Department Resources
The Florida Department of Transportation (department) Office of Inspector General (OIG) received information from management wherein
it was believed a department employee was conducting personal business on state time, and was utilizing department equipment, specifically, the employee's assigned department vehicle, to do their personal business.
At the request of management, the OIG installed a Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking device on the employee's assigned department vehicle. A review of the GPS data revealed the locations of the department
vehicle were primarily department business related, with only six occasions that appeared to be non-department business related. The OIG was subsequently notified that the employee resigned from the department,
and as such, determined no additional investigative steps were necessary. The OIG considers the matter closed. |
12/04/2019
152-18128
Misuse of Public Funds
The Florida Department of Transportation (department) Office of Inspector General (OIG) received a written complaint from citizen who alleged
"the misuse of public funds" to construct a roundabout on a department maintained roadway. The complainant alleged that "false accident numbers" provided to the department from the local Sheriff's Office led to
the funding "for the costly and unnecessary project." The OIG conducted interviews with the complainant as well as department employees, and reviewed relevant documents associated with the construction of the roundabout.
The OIG found no evidence to support the complaint that the department misused public funds to construct a roundabout, or that the project was based on information provided by the local Sheriff's Office. Therefore,
this case was administratively closed. |
11/04/2019
152-19148
Employee Misconduct
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) received an anonymous complaint wherein it was alleged that a department employee had committed numerous
policy violations to include misuse of department resources, such as conducting personal business on a department computer, and using a department vehicle to travel to their private property. Additionally, the complainant
alleged the employee falsified their timesheets. Based on the interviews conducted and the records reviewed, the OIG found no evidence to support the allegations. As such, the case was administratively closed. |
10/14/2019
152-19169
Employee Misconduct
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) received an anonymous complaint regarding an incident of employee misconduct. According to the complainant,
a department employee brandished a firearm on a department project. Based on interviews conducted, there was no evidence to support the allegation, therefore the matter was administratively closed. |
08/30/2019
150-18026
OIG Assistance
The Florida Department of Transportation (department) Office of Inspector General (OIG) was notified that a pedestrian overpass under construction collapsed. The OIG provided assistance to the United States
Attorney's Office-Southern District during their investigation. |
08/05/2019
150-19127
Fraudulent Solicitation of Funds
The Florida Department of Transportation (department) Office of Inspector General (OIG) received a complaint wherein it was alleged
that person claiming to be a department employee contacted a department vendor and attempted to solicit funds for an advertisement to be placed in a directory being created. The OIG determined that the person who
contacted the vendor was not a department employee, nor was there a directory being created. The OIG contacted other department vendors, to determine if they had been contacted as well. It was determined that the
department vendor did not provide funds to the individual, and no other vendors reported being contacted. Accordingly, the OIG categorized this inquiry as administratively closed. |
07/31/2019
152-19042
Falsification of Documents
The Florida Department of Transportation (department) Office of Inspector General (OIG) received a complaint wherein it was alleged that
a department employee submitted falsified documents related to department transactions, on at least one occasion, and possibly more. According to the complainant, the employee forged signatures and "cut and paste"
a notary seal on documents submitted for department business. The OIG conducted interviews and reviewed relevant documents, and determined the employee falsified a document related to the transaction; however, there
was no evidence to support that the employee falsified additional documents. |
07/23/2019
152-19054
Misuse of Department Resources
The Florida Department of Transportation (department) Office of Inspector General (OIG) received an anonymous complaint wherein it
was alleged that a department consultant misused department technology resources to obtain protected information to secure department contracts. According to the complainant, the consultant obtained computer access
credentials from a department employee, and used the credentials to log into the FDOT system. The OIG conducted interviews and reviewed relevant documents, and determined there was no evidence to support the anonymous
complaint. Consequently, this inquiry was categorized as administratively closed.
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