NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
OFFICE OF INVESTIGATIONS
CLOSEOUT MEMORANDUM
',
Case Number: A04110067 Page 1 of 1
In response to concerns that a COPI' may have vacationed internationally using NSF funds
rather than collecting data as proposed, we requested and revieied documentation for his awards2
provided to us by his university.3 During our review, the university initiated its own internal audit of
the awards and provided us a copy of the final audit report. That report identified several internal
control issues with the university's travel reimbursements, time and effort reporting, and an
overpayment of indirect costs to its subawardee; which the university has taken steps to return to
NSF. After visiting the university and speaking with personnel associated with the CoPI's projects,
we determined that the evidence did not substantiate malfeasance on the part of the CoPI. His
vacation did not appear to be NSF funded. He did appear to have work product from the time period
in question. He and his colleagues appear to have had a falling out during the execution of the
awards. Although the quality of the work product appeared to be a matter of debate among the
project personnel, we found no indication that warranted a research misconduct investigation. We
have concluded that the issues in the case are internal to university.
Accordingly, this case is closed.
I' I1
NSF OIG Form 2 (1 1/02)
Data Tampering / Sabotage / Fabrication Grant Fraud
Published by the National Science Foundation, Office of Inspector General on 2006-12-08.
Below is a raw (and likely hideous) rendition of the original report. (PDF)