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Stefania Pozzi Porter Named U.S. AbilityOne Commission Inspector General

WASHINGTON, D.C., October 13, 2022 – The U.S. AbilityOne Commission announced today that Stefania Pozzi Porter has been named Inspector General, following a nationwide search.

“It is a great pleasure to welcome Stefania as the Commission’s new Inspector General,” said Commission Chairperson Jeffrey A. Koses. “Stefania’s leadership and expertise will ensure that the Office of Inspector General continues to build trust in the AbilityOne Program by detecting and preventing fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement. That work is especially critical at a time of transformation and modernization for the Program.”  

A copy of the complete press release may be found here.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) Memorial near the National Mall in Washington DC, picturing FDR sitting next to his beloved Scottish Terrier, Fala. In 1938, FDR signed the Wagner-O’Day Act into law, creating what would later become the U.S. AbilityOne Commission and its Program.

U.S. AbilityOne Commission

The AbilityOne Program is the largest source of employment in the United States for people who are blind or have significant disabilities. Through the AbilityOne Program, over 45,000 Americans who are blind and have significant disabilities are employed in the service, manufacturing, and delivery of over $3.6 billion in federal contracts for products and services to the Federal Government.

The Commission is composed of 15 members appointed by the President.  The Commission has designated National Industries for the Blind (NIB), SourceAmerica, and American Foundation for the Blind as central nonprofit agencies (CNAs) to represent and assist the over 500 community-based qualified nonprofit agencies (NPAs) located in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Guam, that provide employment to blind and significantly disabled Americans.

The Office of Inspector General

On December 18, 2015, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 (P.L. 114-113) amended the Inspector General Act of 1978 (IG Act) and created the Office of Inspector General (OIG) at AbilityOne as a designated federal entity IG.  The OIG is responsible for conducting audits and investigations, recommending policies and procedures that promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of agency resources and programs, and detecting and preventing fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement. The IG Act requires the IG to keep the Commission and Congress fully and currently informed about problems and deficiencies in the Commission’s operations and the need for any corrective action.

AbilityOne News

898 Panel Issues Third Annual Report to Congress

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Top Management and Performance Challenges Facing Multiple Federal Agencies

The FY 2021 edition of CIGIE’s report on top management and performance challenges facing multiple Federal agencies has been published. It is the premier resource for the community, the Administration and other stakeholders that identify and analyze cross cutting challenges in government. CIGIE referenced the analysis of only a few OIGs in identifying the cross cutting challenges for government and the work of AbilityOne OIG was included. 

January 2021 Briefing & 2020 Year End Review

Kicking of 2021, the Inspector General presented on the theme of "why?" at the January 14, 2021 Commission meeting. The presentation featured a discussion of the year-in-review of the major accomplishments of the OIG. And that dramatic change is needed for the successful future of the program. 

Management Alert: Persistent Deficiencies and Mismanagement of Agency Programs Hamper AbilityOne’s Future

The Office of Inspector General issued this management alert to the Commission to help ensure a stronger future for the AbilityOne program. We synthesized the content of reports on the AbilityOne Commission and Programs using over 100 data points. The reports we analyzed provide specific recommendations that would enhance efficiency and confidence in the Agency, reduce identified deficiencies, and foster program growth. The reports show a consistent failure by Commission senior staff to resolve persistent problems in the management and administration of the Program.

Management Alert: Lack of Management Action on ERM and Internal Controls

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Wisconsin-Based Nonprofit To Pay $1.9 Million To Settle Allegations Of False Claims And Kickbacks On Federal Contracts For Blind Workers

Industries for the Blind and Visually Impaired Inc. (IBI) has agreed to pay the United States $1,938,684.09 to resolve
allegations that IBI violated the False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback Act in connection with certain federal contracts
set aside to employ blind workers, the Justice Department announced on September 30, 2020.

Investigative Summary of Spoofing Attack, Payroll Fraud, and Related Policy Violations

The Office of Inspector General issued this Investigative Summary concerning policy violations that contributed to the success of a spoofing attack on AbilityOne.

DOJ Press Release: Memphis Goodwill Industries, Inc. will pay $150,000 to the United States for claims that were in violation of the Federal False Claims Act

Memphis Goodwill Industries, Inc. will pay $150,000 to the United States for claims that were in violation of the Federal False Claims Act.

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