Ever Wonder Why JPL is So Expensive?

OIG: NASA's Efforts to Identify Improper Payments

"JPL is a federally funded research and development center operated for NASA by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). JPL received $1.6 billion from NASA in FY 2010 and is the second largest recipient of Agency procurement funds after private businesses. However, NASA excluded payments made to and by JPL from its IPIA [Improper Payments Information Act] review because it is the Agency's position that the payments NASA makes to JPL are not at risk and that payments made by JPL to its subcontractors are not subject to IPIA. However, we believe that payments made to and by JPL meet OMB's definition of payment, which includes disbursements to and by a governmental or other organization administering a Federal program or activity. At a minimum, to comply with IPIA NASA should assess the risk of improper payments to and by JPL consistent with its assessment of other Agency programs."