Guidelines, Advisories, Letters and Manuals

Certain designated publications are available electronically, either in PDF format or HTML. A free reader for PDF files may be obtained from Adobe Systems, Inc. For a hard copy of a publication listed below call (617) 727-9140 or send a written request to the Office of the Inspector General, Room 1311, One Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02108.

• Review of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's Receipt of a Women, Infant, and Children Nutrition Program (WIC) Miscellaneous Technology Grant, July 2011 [PDF] [NEW]
 
 
• U.S. Department of Commerce's Broadband Technology Opportunities Program Grant to OpenCape Corporation , September 2011 [PDF]
 
 
• American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Oversight: October 1, 2009 - September 30, 2011, November 2011. [PDF] [Updated]
 
 
• Risk Assessment of the U.S. Small Business Administration's ARRA-funded Microloan Program, August 2011 [PDF]
 
 
• Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) Grants Reviews
• City of Boston Department of Neighborhood Development Subgrantee Catholic Charitable Bureau of the Archdiocese of Boston Inc. (Catholic Charities) HPRP Grant, September 2011 [pdf] [NEW]
• Advisory to Grantees and Sub-Grantees of the Recovery Act Funded Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP), August 2011 [pdf]
• Department of Housing and Community Development HPRP Grant [pdf]
• City of Boston Department of Neighborhood Development HPRP Grant [pdf]
• City of Newton Department of Community Development and Planning HPRP Grant [pdf]
• City of Lowell Department of Planning and Development HPRP Grant [pdf]
• Lynn Housing Authority and Neighborhood Development HPRP Grant [pdf]
• City of Springfield Housing Department HPRP Grant [pdf]
• City of Worcester Department of Supportive Housing HPRP Grant [pdf]
 
 
• Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Program (LHC) Grants Letters, 2011
  • Risk Assessment Advisory to Grantees and Subgrantees of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Program (LHC) in Massachusetts [pdf]
  • Malden LHC Grant [pdf]
  • Lowell LHC Grant [pdf]
  • Pittsfield Department of Community Development LHC Grant [pdf]
  • Self Help, Inc. LHC Grant [pdf]
  • University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's LHC Grant [pdf]
   
   
• Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Program Equipment Assistance Grants (Russell) Letters, May 2011
  • Summary Letter to Department of Elementary and Secondary Education [pdf]
  • Boston Russell Grant [pdf]
  • The Evergreen Center Russell Grant [pdf]
  • Fall River Russell Grant [pdf]
  • Fitchburg Russell Grant [pdf]
  • Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Technical H.S. Grant [pdf]
  • Greenfield Russell Grant [pdf]
  • Lawrence Russell Grant [pdf]
  • Randolph Russell Grant [pdf]
  • Somerville Russell Grant [pdf]
  • Ware Russell Grant [pdf]
  • Winchendon Russell Grant [pdf]
  • Worcester Russell Grant [pdf]
   
   
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security Port Security Grant, April 2011. [pdf] The Office wrote to the Executive Office of Energy and Enviornmental Affairs (EOEEA) regarding the purchase of a SAFE boat and an upgrade to the New Bedford State Pier.
 
 
• MassDOT Issues Procurement Guide in Response to Inspector General Review, March 2011.  
   
  • Inspector General Comments on the MassDOT Procurement Guide [pdf]
 
 
• Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG) Letters, March - July 2011
  • Summary Letter to Department of Energy Resources [pdf]
  • Springfield EECBG Grant [pdf]
  • Newton EECBG Grant [pdf]
  • Leominster EECBG Grant [pdf]
  • Weymouth EECBG Grant [pdf]
  • Ayer EECBG Grant [pdf]
  • Revere EECBG Grant [pdf]
  • Arlington EECBG Grant [pdf]
  • Everett EECBG Grant [pdf]
  • Methuen EECBG Grant [pdf]
   
   
• Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority (MVRTA) Grant, February 2011 [pdf]: The Office reviewed a grant of $7.9 million in ARRA funds for construction of the new Amesbury Transportation Center and the new MVRTA office and maintenance facility in Haverhill.
 
 
• Leaky Underground Storage Tank Grant [pdf], February 2011.
 
 
• Readiness Assessment Follow Up Letters, December 2010
  • Department of Energy Resources [pdf]
  • Department of Elementary and Secondary Education [pdf]
  • Executive Office of Public Safety [pdf]
  • Massachusetts Department of Transportation [pdf]
  • Department of Environmental Protection [pdf]
  • Department of Housing and Community Development [pdf]
   
   
• State Fiscal Stabilization Fund Grants: 2010 - 2011: The Office reviewed certain school districts' use of State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (SFSF) Grants.
  • New Bedford Public Schools SFSF Grant for a Special Education Provider, September 2011 [NEW]
  • New Bedford Public Schools
  • Chicopee Public Schools
  • Southbridge Public Schools
  • Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School
  • Brockton Public Schools
  • Franklin Public Schools
  • Everett Public Schools
  • Revere Public Schools
  • Lowell Public Schools
  • Lynn Public Schools
   
   
• Byrne Grant Procurements: 2009 - 2010: The office reviewed the expenditure of Byrne Grants by several cities and towns and issued the following letters.
  • Advisory to Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association
  • Amesbury
  • Greenfield
  • Millbury
  • Newton
  • Waltham
  • West Springfield
  • Winchendon

  For more information on the grants see American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Public Safety Opportunities.

• Self Help, Inc., Healthy Homes Program Anti-Fraud Policy Review [pdf], September 2010
 
 
• Recommendations to the Green Communities Division regarding monitoring of Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block sub-Grants[pdf], August 2010
 
 
• Recommendation to Department of Housing and Community Development to Review Twin Cities Community Development Corporation's Non-Use of ARRA Grant Funds in a Timely Manner [pdf], July 2010
 
 
• EOT and MBTA Procurement of Paratransit Vans [pdf], July 2010: The Office wrote to Secretary Jeffrey Mullan and General Manager Richard Davey regarding a $5.5 million purchase of paratransit vans for The Ride program.
 
 
• HUD Healthy Homes Grant to University of Massachusetts Lowell [pdf], May 2010
 
 
• HUD Healthy Homes Grant to Self Help, Inc. [pdf], May 2010: The Office wrote to the Executive Director of Self Help, Inc. identifying areas where there may be an opportunity to increase controls.
 
 
• Letter to Ellen Bickelman, State Purchasing Agent regarding a $5.5 million purchase of paratransit vans for The Ride by MassDOT. [pdf], April 2010
 
 
• Executive Office of Education SFSF Expenditures [pdf], January 2010: The Executive Office of Education's plan to rely on the Single Audit to monitor State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (SFSF) expenditures will not meet federal requirements. In January 2010, the Office wrote to recommend that adequate monitoring measures be implemented.
 
 
• More Fraud Prevention Guidance, November 2009

 
• Timekeeping Best Practices for Employers with Employees with Multiple Positions, November 2009

 
• Guide to Developing and Implementing Fraud Prevention Programs [pdf], October 2009:
 
 
• Contractors and Vendors Required to Report Fraud, September 2009

 
• Recommendations to Secretary Kirwan on ARRA Reporting Requirements [pdf], September 2009

[Massachusetts Inspector General's ARRA Home Page]
[Massachusetts Inspector General's Home Page]
[Massachusetts Home Page]

Revised November 23, 2011