On February 10, 1989, the National Science Board (NSB), in compliance with the Inspector General Act Amendments of 1988 (Public Law 100-504), established NSF's Office of Inspector General (OIG). The OIG is headed by an Inspector General (IG), who reports directly to the NSB and Congress. Under the Law, the IG has the authority and responsibility to conduct audits, inspections, and investigations involving any NSF proposal, award, program, function, system, or operation. OIG is also responsible for:

• promoting economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in the administration of NSF programs and operations;
  
  
• preventing and detecting fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in NSF programs and operations;
  
  
• commenting on legislation and regulations that affect NSF;
  
  
• preventing, detecting, and handling cases involving misconduct in science; and
  
  
• issuing Semiannual Reports to the Congress that describe OIG activities.

In support of these responsibilities, OIG has statutory authority to subpoena or otherwise obtain all records, files, reports, documents, or materials needed to conduct audits, inspections, and investigations. The IG is independent and may not be prevented from carrying out any audit, inspection, or investigation or issuing any report.

For more information on allegations of misconduct in science, fraud, waste, abuse, or mismanagement, you may call us at
(703) 292-7100 or e-mail us at oig@nsf.gov.

 Aug 27, '04