2022-001: Suspension and Debarment Federal Agency: Department of the Treasury and Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program: Education Partnership Coalition Grant and ESSA ? Preschool Development Grants Birth through Five Federal Assistance Listing Number: 21.027 and 93.434 Pass-Through Agency: MN Department of Education and MN Department of Health and Human Services Pass-Through Number(s): None Award Period: November 1, 2021 through June 30, 2023 and February 8, 2021 through December 30, 2022 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance and Other Matter Criteria or specific requirement: 2 CFR Part 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Award requires compliance with the provisions of procurement, suspension, and debarment. The Organization should have internal controls designed to ensure compliance with those provisions. Condition: During our testing, we noted the Organization did not have adequate internal controls designed to ensure vendors and subrecipients were not suspended or debarred. Questioned costs: None Context: During our testing, it was noted that the Organization was not reviewing vendors or subrecipients prior to entering into a contract to ensure the vendor or subrecipient was not on the suspended or debarred vendor list maintained by the General Services Administration. Cause: The Organization has not followed its formal procurement policy manual as it relates to suspension and debarment. Effect: The auditor noted no instances of noncompliance with the provisions of procurement, suspension, and debarment; however, the lack of internal controls over these compliance requirements provides an opportunity for noncompliance. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend the Organization design controls to ensure an adequate review process is in place to review potential contractors to determine they are not suspended or debarred. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: There is no disagreement with the finding.
2022-002: Period of Performance Federal Agency: U.S. Department of the Treasury Federal Program: Education Partnership Coalition Grant Federal Assistance Listing Number: 21.027 Pass-Through Agency: MN Department of Education Pass-Through Number(s): None Award Period: November 1, 2021 through June 30, 2023 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency over Compliance and Other Matter Criteria or specific requirement: Per Uniform Guidance 200.214 Period of Performance, the Organization is subject to period of performance regulations, which requires allowable expenses under the grant to be incurred within the grant award period. Condition: There were two disbursements for which reimbursement requests were submitted under the grant that the expenses were incurred prior to the grant award period start date. Questioned costs: $1,829 Context: For a sample of disbursements within the grant period start date, there were two out of six disbursements for which the expense was incurred prior to the start of the grant period. Cause: The Organization submitted expenses for reimbursement that were incurred prior to the grant award period start date. Effect: Without the proper procedure in place, the Organization may incur unallowable costs outside of the grant award period. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend the Organization review the expense incurred date for disbursements within the grant award period start date. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: There is no disagreement with the finding.
2022-001: Suspension and Debarment Federal Agency: Department of the Treasury and Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program: Education Partnership Coalition Grant and ESSA ? Preschool Development Grants Birth through Five Federal Assistance Listing Number: 21.027 and 93.434 Pass-Through Agency: MN Department of Education and MN Department of Health and Human Services Pass-Through Number(s): None Award Period: November 1, 2021 through June 30, 2023 and February 8, 2021 through December 30, 2022 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance and Other Matter Criteria or specific requirement: 2 CFR Part 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Award requires compliance with the provisions of procurement, suspension, and debarment. The Organization should have internal controls designed to ensure compliance with those provisions. Condition: During our testing, we noted the Organization did not have adequate internal controls designed to ensure vendors and subrecipients were not suspended or debarred. Questioned costs: None Context: During our testing, it was noted that the Organization was not reviewing vendors or subrecipients prior to entering into a contract to ensure the vendor or subrecipient was not on the suspended or debarred vendor list maintained by the General Services Administration. Cause: The Organization has not followed its formal procurement policy manual as it relates to suspension and debarment. Effect: The auditor noted no instances of noncompliance with the provisions of procurement, suspension, and debarment; however, the lack of internal controls over these compliance requirements provides an opportunity for noncompliance. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend the Organization design controls to ensure an adequate review process is in place to review potential contractors to determine they are not suspended or debarred. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: There is no disagreement with the finding.
2022-003: Indirect Costs Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program: ESSA ? Preschool Development Grants Birth through Five Federal Assistance Listing Number: 93.434 Pass-Through Agency: MN Department of Health and Human Services Pass-Through Number(s): None Award Period: February 8, 2021 through December 30, 2022 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance Criteria or specific requirement: Per Uniform Guidance 200.214 Indirect Costs, the Organization is subject to indirect cost regulations, which under the Organization?s internal control structure requires approval of indirect costs prior to submission of reimbursement requests. Condition: There was no documentation of approval of reimbursement requests retained. Questioned costs: None Context: For a three out of five of indirect cost disbursements tested there was no documentation of approval of reimbursement requests retained. Cause: The Organization did not implement a process for reviewing monthly reports prior to submission. Effect: Without the proper procedure in place, there is a heightened risk that drawdowns could be made that are incorrectly calculated, or an erroneous amount not supported by expenditures made by the Organization. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend the Organization follow their process to approve reimbursement requests prior to submission and retain documentation of such approval. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: There is no disagreement with the finding.
2022-001: Suspension and Debarment Federal Agency: Department of the Treasury and Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program: Education Partnership Coalition Grant and ESSA ? Preschool Development Grants Birth through Five Federal Assistance Listing Number: 21.027 and 93.434 Pass-Through Agency: MN Department of Education and MN Department of Health and Human Services Pass-Through Number(s): None Award Period: November 1, 2021 through June 30, 2023 and February 8, 2021 through December 30, 2022 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance and Other Matter Criteria or specific requirement: 2 CFR Part 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Award requires compliance with the provisions of procurement, suspension, and debarment. The Organization should have internal controls designed to ensure compliance with those provisions. Condition: During our testing, we noted the Organization did not have adequate internal controls designed to ensure vendors and subrecipients were not suspended or debarred. Questioned costs: None Context: During our testing, it was noted that the Organization was not reviewing vendors or subrecipients prior to entering into a contract to ensure the vendor or subrecipient was not on the suspended or debarred vendor list maintained by the General Services Administration. Cause: The Organization has not followed its formal procurement policy manual as it relates to suspension and debarment. Effect: The auditor noted no instances of noncompliance with the provisions of procurement, suspension, and debarment; however, the lack of internal controls over these compliance requirements provides an opportunity for noncompliance. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend the Organization design controls to ensure an adequate review process is in place to review potential contractors to determine they are not suspended or debarred. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: There is no disagreement with the finding.
2022-002: Period of Performance Federal Agency: U.S. Department of the Treasury Federal Program: Education Partnership Coalition Grant Federal Assistance Listing Number: 21.027 Pass-Through Agency: MN Department of Education Pass-Through Number(s): None Award Period: November 1, 2021 through June 30, 2023 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency over Compliance and Other Matter Criteria or specific requirement: Per Uniform Guidance 200.214 Period of Performance, the Organization is subject to period of performance regulations, which requires allowable expenses under the grant to be incurred within the grant award period. Condition: There were two disbursements for which reimbursement requests were submitted under the grant that the expenses were incurred prior to the grant award period start date. Questioned costs: $1,829 Context: For a sample of disbursements within the grant period start date, there were two out of six disbursements for which the expense was incurred prior to the start of the grant period. Cause: The Organization submitted expenses for reimbursement that were incurred prior to the grant award period start date. Effect: Without the proper procedure in place, the Organization may incur unallowable costs outside of the grant award period. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend the Organization review the expense incurred date for disbursements within the grant award period start date. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: There is no disagreement with the finding.
2022-001: Suspension and Debarment Federal Agency: Department of the Treasury and Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program: Education Partnership Coalition Grant and ESSA ? Preschool Development Grants Birth through Five Federal Assistance Listing Number: 21.027 and 93.434 Pass-Through Agency: MN Department of Education and MN Department of Health and Human Services Pass-Through Number(s): None Award Period: November 1, 2021 through June 30, 2023 and February 8, 2021 through December 30, 2022 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance and Other Matter Criteria or specific requirement: 2 CFR Part 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Award requires compliance with the provisions of procurement, suspension, and debarment. The Organization should have internal controls designed to ensure compliance with those provisions. Condition: During our testing, we noted the Organization did not have adequate internal controls designed to ensure vendors and subrecipients were not suspended or debarred. Questioned costs: None Context: During our testing, it was noted that the Organization was not reviewing vendors or subrecipients prior to entering into a contract to ensure the vendor or subrecipient was not on the suspended or debarred vendor list maintained by the General Services Administration. Cause: The Organization has not followed its formal procurement policy manual as it relates to suspension and debarment. Effect: The auditor noted no instances of noncompliance with the provisions of procurement, suspension, and debarment; however, the lack of internal controls over these compliance requirements provides an opportunity for noncompliance. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend the Organization design controls to ensure an adequate review process is in place to review potential contractors to determine they are not suspended or debarred. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: There is no disagreement with the finding.
2022-003: Indirect Costs Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program: ESSA ? Preschool Development Grants Birth through Five Federal Assistance Listing Number: 93.434 Pass-Through Agency: MN Department of Health and Human Services Pass-Through Number(s): None Award Period: February 8, 2021 through December 30, 2022 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance Criteria or specific requirement: Per Uniform Guidance 200.214 Indirect Costs, the Organization is subject to indirect cost regulations, which under the Organization?s internal control structure requires approval of indirect costs prior to submission of reimbursement requests. Condition: There was no documentation of approval of reimbursement requests retained. Questioned costs: None Context: For a three out of five of indirect cost disbursements tested there was no documentation of approval of reimbursement requests retained. Cause: The Organization did not implement a process for reviewing monthly reports prior to submission. Effect: Without the proper procedure in place, there is a heightened risk that drawdowns could be made that are incorrectly calculated, or an erroneous amount not supported by expenditures made by the Organization. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend the Organization follow their process to approve reimbursement requests prior to submission and retain documentation of such approval. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: There is no disagreement with the finding.