RMF Step 4 – ALERT
TDG performed the USDA Risk Management Framework Step 4 certification and accreditation services for FNS for the Anti-Fraud Locator using EBT Retailer Transaction (ALERT) system.
FNS has the primary responsibility for monitoring any fraudulent activity by retailers and the individual States for recipients. While traditional methods of fraud, identified under the coupon distribution/redemption system, are reduced through the use of EBT, the nature of electronic transactions also introduces previously unknown approaches to committing fraud. Methods of detecting (and ultimately preventing) food stamp fraud by EBT enabled retailers are essential to the successful management of the benefit redemption process.
The ALERT system receives monthly transaction records from EBT processors and conducts analysis of patterns in the data, which indicate potential fraudulent activity by stores. FNS investigators and compliance offices use these reports to support case management. Other users include USDA Office of the Inspector General (OIG) investigators and the staff members of Regional and Field offices.
ALERT is operated by the FNS Retailer Operations Branch, Benefit Redemption Division. The system collects store address information and financial transaction information of stores. ALERT assesses and analyzes over 1 billion individual financial store transactions annually to identify retail firms with suspicious patterns of food stamp benefit redemptions.
The ALERT System initially scans all retailer transactions provided by states’ Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Processors to Food and Nutrition Services (FNS). The initial scan ranks the participating retail stores with a likelihood of fraud performance, based upon pre-defined criteria, and ranked stores and conditions are then compiled in pre-formatted reports and queried for the ALERT System users. ALERT users can analyze these reports and queries as presented or can further aggregate, pare, and/or synthesize them through the Reports and Queries menu option.
TDG conducted the RMF Step 4 Security Assessment and Authorization (SA&A) using the USDA RMF process. All RMF Step 4 steps were completed on time and within budget.
Contracting Officer: Ms. Deana Hudgens
Telephone number: 703-305-2250
FNS
Contract Specialist
3101 Park Center Drive
Alexandria, VA 22302-1500
Program manager: Leo Wong
Telephone number: 703-605-1181
FNS
Deputy CISO
3101 Park Center Drive
Alexandria, VA 22302-1500
