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Pandemic Analytics Center of Excellence (PACE)

The PACE is a leading-edge analytics platform that conducts data analysis, provides investigative support, and shares data, tools, and services to help Offices of Inspectors General (OIG) and federal law enforcement partners to fight fraud.
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map of the U S constructed of computer monitors with an animated magnifying glass scanning over the map and finding many blue and one red screen when the magnifying glass passes over them

We built the PACE with the goal of creating a best-in-class analytics platform to support the oversight and law enforcement communities during the pandemic and beyond. As a cross-program, cross-agency solution, the PACE proactively identifies potential fraud in more than $5 trillion in federal funding. 

PACE by the Numbers

The PACE has more than 50 datasets, providing access to more than 1.6 billion records from public, non-public, and commercial data sources. As of January 2025, the PACE has supported 48 OIG and federal law enforcement partners in more than 1,000 pandemic-related investigations involving over 23,000 subjects and more than $2.4 billion in estimated fraud loss.

  50+ datasets

  1.6 billion records

  48 federal partners

  1,000+ investigations

  23,000+ subjects

  $2.4+ billion in fraud

PACE Highlights

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A stack of Social Security Cards sits beside a stack of money.

1. Fraud Prevention Alert: Pre-Award Vetting Could Have Prevented Over $79B in Potentially Fraudulent Payments

We analyzed applications across major pandemic relief programs and estimate these programs disbursed approximately $79 billion to applicants who used over 1.4 million potentially stolen or invalid Social Security numbers (SSNs).

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Magnifying glass looking at money on a blue background

2. Fraud Prevention Alert: Cross-agency data analytics can prevent fraud in government programs.

We compared data of applicants who received benefits from the Department of Housing and Urban Development and also qualified for PPP loans from the Small Business Administration and found that some may have deliberately misrepresented their incomes.

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PBGC Dashboard

3. Case Study: We assisted the PBGC OIG in identifying misrepresentations in pension plan assistance applications.

We developed a predictive risk model to help the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) OIG identify overpayments of Special Financial Assistance funds. This risk model provided support to the Department of Justice in a $135 million civil settlement agreement with pension funds related to improper payments.

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image of social security card, stacks or money and bar chart

4. Fraud Alert: Improved government information-sharing and controls would strengthen program integrity.

We identified 69,000 questionable SSNs used to obtain $5.4 billion in potentially fraudulent pandemic loans from the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.

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data icons with money and social security cards

5. Fraud Alert Follow-Up: The PACE combined with the Do Not Pay system could prevent and detect fraud beyond the pandemic.

In this Fraud Alert Follow-Up, we found $38 million in potentially improper or fraudulent loans obtained using deceased people’s SSNs. The results reveal potential benefits for agencies to continue to use the Department of the Treasury’s (Treasury) Do Not Pay system to strengthen program integrity.

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CRF Dashboard

6. Case Study: PACE risk scoring model rates CARES Act state and local spending.

We created a risk-scoring model to streamline Treasury OIG’s review process for the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF). Our advanced data analytics techniques helped Treasury OIG prioritize fraud investigations and audit reviews related to CRF prime and sub-recipients.

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Quotes

Sustaining and expanding the PACE would save taxpayers millions, if not billions of dollars, by eliminating the need to recreate a data analytics center in response to the next crisis and continuing the critical work of preventing fraud and improper payments.

-Michael E. Horowitz, Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Chair 

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PRAC Chair Michael Horowitz holding the Blueprint

Facing the Future

The Government Accountability Office has recommended that Congress establish a permanent analytics center of excellence, estimating a billion or more annually in financial benefits.

In September 2024, PRAC Chair Michael E. Horowitz testified to the House of Representatives how the PACE has prevented fraud and improper payments. He urged Congress to sustain the PACE’s capabilities beyond the PRAC’s scheduled sunset on September 30, 2025, and to expand its jurisdiction to all federal spending.

Learn More About the PACE

Watch Our Video About the PACE

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Page last modified: 06/04/2025
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