We investigated a bribery allegation involving a subconsultant’s 2023 holiday event, attended by two District employees and their family members. The event cost $3,915 and the employees claimed to have paid $110 and $120, respectively, for their share of the event. However, no documentation was available to verify these payments.

While we found no evidence supporting the bribery claim, we concluded that the District’s Employee and Contractor Codes of Conduct lack guidance on determining the value of intangible benefits, such as the value of an invitation-only event, and documenting actions taken to avoid actual or perceived violations when employees attend such events hosted by contractors. Because of this, we could not conclude whether any violations occurred.

To address these concerns, we recommended BART update the Codes of Conduct to include clearer guidance on valuing intangible benefits and documenting compliance with gift-giving rules. These updates will help ensure that employees and contractors adhere to the highest ethical standards.

We encourage you to review the summary video and full report for detailed insights:

Insert report and video

Thank you for your continued interest in our work. For access to all BART Office of the Inspector General reports, please visit our website at www.bart.gov/oig.

Sincerely,

Claudette Biemeret
Inspector General
Email: InspectorGeneral@bart.gov
Phone: 510-464-6141