Audit 12525

FY End
2023-06-30
Total Expended
$2.19M
Findings
6
Programs
3
Organization: Connstep, Inc. (CT)
Year: 2023 Accepted: 2024-01-19

Organization Exclusion Status:

Checking exclusion status...

Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
9151 2023-001 Significant Deficiency - N
9152 2023-001 Significant Deficiency - N
9153 2023-001 Significant Deficiency - N
585593 2023-001 Significant Deficiency - N
585594 2023-001 Significant Deficiency - N
585595 2023-001 Significant Deficiency - N

Programs

ALN Program Spent Major Findings
11.611 Manufacturing Extension Partnership $1.86M Yes 1
11.802 Minority Business Resource Development $110,497 - 0
12.600 Community Investment $81,442 - 0

Contacts

Name Title Type
KZ58KK44JMA5 Robert Blakey Auditee
8602448528 Melanie Ballestas Auditor
No contacts on file

Notes to SEFA

Accounting Policies: Basis of Presentation The accompanying schedule of expenditures of federal awards (the Schedule) includes the federal grant activity of CONNSTEP, Inc., under programs of the federal government for the year ended June 30, 2023. The information in the Schedule is presented in accordance with the requirements of Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance). Because the Schedule presents only a selected portion of the operations of CONNSTEP, Inc., it is not intended to and does not present the financial position, changes in net assets, or cash flows of CONNSTEP, Inc. Basis of Accounting Expenditures reported on the Schedule are reported on the accrual basis of accounting. For cost-reimbursement awards, such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. For performance-based awards, expenditures reported represent amounts earned. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: CONNSTEP, Inc., has elected not to use the 10% de minimis indirect cost rate allowed under the Uniform Guidance.

Finding Details

Federal Agency: United States Department of Commerce Federal Program Name: Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Assistance Listing Number: 11.611 Pass-Through Numbers: 70NANB20H153, 70NANB23H043, and 70NANB20H059 Award Period: Various Type of Finding:  Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance  Other Matter Criteria or specific requirement: Per OMB Cost Standards, an Organization is required to ensure that if employees are being allocated to various grant programs that there is underlying support for that allocation. This can be accomplished through utilization of time sheets or personal activity reports (PAR), but must be completed at least monthly and must be signed by both the employee and the supervisor. Condition: During our testing, it was noted that the organization does not have a standard policy requiring the preparation of time sheets or PAR’s for all employees on a monthly basis that are signed off on by the employee and the supervisor. Questioned costs: None noted Context: Of total salaries incurred by the Organization in the current year, approximately 94% are charged to this grant while 6% is allocated to other departments. Cause: Historically, the Organizations’ grant activity was such that PAR’s were not needed. As new funding is received, salaries for certain employees are now being allocated among different grants, but policies have not changed to align with cost standards. Due to the client only have two grants in the past that were extensions of each other and all employee time was able to be charged to either grant allocation support was not needed. Effect: The effect is that salary could potentially be incorrectly stated and / or misallocated to grants as of year-end. Repeat finding: This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that if employees are being allocated to multiple programs throughout the year, personnel activity reports must be prepared at minimum, on a monthly basis and be reviewed and signed off on by both the employee and their immediate supervisor. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.
Federal Agency: United States Department of Commerce Federal Program Name: Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Assistance Listing Number: 11.611 Pass-Through Numbers: 70NANB20H153, 70NANB23H043, and 70NANB20H059 Award Period: Various Type of Finding:  Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance  Other Matter Criteria or specific requirement: Per OMB Cost Standards, an Organization is required to ensure that if employees are being allocated to various grant programs that there is underlying support for that allocation. This can be accomplished through utilization of time sheets or personal activity reports (PAR), but must be completed at least monthly and must be signed by both the employee and the supervisor. Condition: During our testing, it was noted that the organization does not have a standard policy requiring the preparation of time sheets or PAR’s for all employees on a monthly basis that are signed off on by the employee and the supervisor. Questioned costs: None noted Context: Of total salaries incurred by the Organization in the current year, approximately 94% are charged to this grant while 6% is allocated to other departments. Cause: Historically, the Organizations’ grant activity was such that PAR’s were not needed. As new funding is received, salaries for certain employees are now being allocated among different grants, but policies have not changed to align with cost standards. Due to the client only have two grants in the past that were extensions of each other and all employee time was able to be charged to either grant allocation support was not needed. Effect: The effect is that salary could potentially be incorrectly stated and / or misallocated to grants as of year-end. Repeat finding: This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that if employees are being allocated to multiple programs throughout the year, personnel activity reports must be prepared at minimum, on a monthly basis and be reviewed and signed off on by both the employee and their immediate supervisor. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.
Federal Agency: United States Department of Commerce Federal Program Name: Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Assistance Listing Number: 11.611 Pass-Through Numbers: 70NANB20H153, 70NANB23H043, and 70NANB20H059 Award Period: Various Type of Finding:  Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance  Other Matter Criteria or specific requirement: Per OMB Cost Standards, an Organization is required to ensure that if employees are being allocated to various grant programs that there is underlying support for that allocation. This can be accomplished through utilization of time sheets or personal activity reports (PAR), but must be completed at least monthly and must be signed by both the employee and the supervisor. Condition: During our testing, it was noted that the organization does not have a standard policy requiring the preparation of time sheets or PAR’s for all employees on a monthly basis that are signed off on by the employee and the supervisor. Questioned costs: None noted Context: Of total salaries incurred by the Organization in the current year, approximately 94% are charged to this grant while 6% is allocated to other departments. Cause: Historically, the Organizations’ grant activity was such that PAR’s were not needed. As new funding is received, salaries for certain employees are now being allocated among different grants, but policies have not changed to align with cost standards. Due to the client only have two grants in the past that were extensions of each other and all employee time was able to be charged to either grant allocation support was not needed. Effect: The effect is that salary could potentially be incorrectly stated and / or misallocated to grants as of year-end. Repeat finding: This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that if employees are being allocated to multiple programs throughout the year, personnel activity reports must be prepared at minimum, on a monthly basis and be reviewed and signed off on by both the employee and their immediate supervisor. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.
Federal Agency: United States Department of Commerce Federal Program Name: Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Assistance Listing Number: 11.611 Pass-Through Numbers: 70NANB20H153, 70NANB23H043, and 70NANB20H059 Award Period: Various Type of Finding:  Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance  Other Matter Criteria or specific requirement: Per OMB Cost Standards, an Organization is required to ensure that if employees are being allocated to various grant programs that there is underlying support for that allocation. This can be accomplished through utilization of time sheets or personal activity reports (PAR), but must be completed at least monthly and must be signed by both the employee and the supervisor. Condition: During our testing, it was noted that the organization does not have a standard policy requiring the preparation of time sheets or PAR’s for all employees on a monthly basis that are signed off on by the employee and the supervisor. Questioned costs: None noted Context: Of total salaries incurred by the Organization in the current year, approximately 94% are charged to this grant while 6% is allocated to other departments. Cause: Historically, the Organizations’ grant activity was such that PAR’s were not needed. As new funding is received, salaries for certain employees are now being allocated among different grants, but policies have not changed to align with cost standards. Due to the client only have two grants in the past that were extensions of each other and all employee time was able to be charged to either grant allocation support was not needed. Effect: The effect is that salary could potentially be incorrectly stated and / or misallocated to grants as of year-end. Repeat finding: This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that if employees are being allocated to multiple programs throughout the year, personnel activity reports must be prepared at minimum, on a monthly basis and be reviewed and signed off on by both the employee and their immediate supervisor. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.
Federal Agency: United States Department of Commerce Federal Program Name: Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Assistance Listing Number: 11.611 Pass-Through Numbers: 70NANB20H153, 70NANB23H043, and 70NANB20H059 Award Period: Various Type of Finding:  Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance  Other Matter Criteria or specific requirement: Per OMB Cost Standards, an Organization is required to ensure that if employees are being allocated to various grant programs that there is underlying support for that allocation. This can be accomplished through utilization of time sheets or personal activity reports (PAR), but must be completed at least monthly and must be signed by both the employee and the supervisor. Condition: During our testing, it was noted that the organization does not have a standard policy requiring the preparation of time sheets or PAR’s for all employees on a monthly basis that are signed off on by the employee and the supervisor. Questioned costs: None noted Context: Of total salaries incurred by the Organization in the current year, approximately 94% are charged to this grant while 6% is allocated to other departments. Cause: Historically, the Organizations’ grant activity was such that PAR’s were not needed. As new funding is received, salaries for certain employees are now being allocated among different grants, but policies have not changed to align with cost standards. Due to the client only have two grants in the past that were extensions of each other and all employee time was able to be charged to either grant allocation support was not needed. Effect: The effect is that salary could potentially be incorrectly stated and / or misallocated to grants as of year-end. Repeat finding: This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that if employees are being allocated to multiple programs throughout the year, personnel activity reports must be prepared at minimum, on a monthly basis and be reviewed and signed off on by both the employee and their immediate supervisor. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.
Federal Agency: United States Department of Commerce Federal Program Name: Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Assistance Listing Number: 11.611 Pass-Through Numbers: 70NANB20H153, 70NANB23H043, and 70NANB20H059 Award Period: Various Type of Finding:  Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance  Other Matter Criteria or specific requirement: Per OMB Cost Standards, an Organization is required to ensure that if employees are being allocated to various grant programs that there is underlying support for that allocation. This can be accomplished through utilization of time sheets or personal activity reports (PAR), but must be completed at least monthly and must be signed by both the employee and the supervisor. Condition: During our testing, it was noted that the organization does not have a standard policy requiring the preparation of time sheets or PAR’s for all employees on a monthly basis that are signed off on by the employee and the supervisor. Questioned costs: None noted Context: Of total salaries incurred by the Organization in the current year, approximately 94% are charged to this grant while 6% is allocated to other departments. Cause: Historically, the Organizations’ grant activity was such that PAR’s were not needed. As new funding is received, salaries for certain employees are now being allocated among different grants, but policies have not changed to align with cost standards. Due to the client only have two grants in the past that were extensions of each other and all employee time was able to be charged to either grant allocation support was not needed. Effect: The effect is that salary could potentially be incorrectly stated and / or misallocated to grants as of year-end. Repeat finding: This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that if employees are being allocated to multiple programs throughout the year, personnel activity reports must be prepared at minimum, on a monthly basis and be reviewed and signed off on by both the employee and their immediate supervisor. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.