Audit 296283

2023-002 Compliance with Procurement, Suspension and Debarment Requirement Information on the Federal Program: U.S. Department of State Assistance Listing Number: 19.517 Assistance Listing Name: Overseas Refugee Assistance for Africa Grant Award Number: Direct Award Number Award Period SPRMCO23CA0016 November 21, 2022 through July 31, 2024 Criteria or Specific Requirement: In accordance with 2 CFR §200.318(a), General Procurement Standards, the non-federal entity must use its own documented procurement procedures which reflect applicable State, local, and tribal laws and regulations, provided that the procurements conform to applicable federal law and the standards identified in General Procurement Standards. Additionally, §200.318(i) states that the non-federal entity must maintain records sufficient to detail the history of the procurement. These records are required to include, but are not necessarily limited to the following: rationale for the method of procurement, selection of contract type, contractor selection or rejection, and the basis for the contract price. In accordance with §200.213 and §180.300, Suspension and Debarment, non-federal entities cannot enter into awards, subawards, or contracts with certain parties that are debarred, suspended, or otherwise excluded from or ineligible for participation in federal assistance programs or activities. Non-federal entities must either check for exclusions in the System for Award Management (SAM); collect a certification from the entity, or add a clause or condition to the covered transaction with the entity prior to entering into a covered transaction with a non-federal entity. In addition, in accordance with §180.415(b), non-federal entities cannot renew or extend covered transactions (other than no-cost time extension) with any excluded person, or under which an excluded person is a principal, unless the non-federal entity obtains an exception under §180.135. Condition: During our testing of the procurement, suspension and debarment compliance requirements, we identified one procurement sample out of a total of six procurement samples tested wherein management was unable to provide evidence that the suspension and debarment check was performed prior to entering into contract with the vendor. Management has subsequently determined that the vendor was not suspended or debarred. Questioned Costs: There are no known or likely questioned costs. Context: This is a condition based on testing of CRS’s compliance with specified requirements. The prevalence of the finding is detailed in the condition section above. The samples were selected using a non-statistical method. Cause: CRS country office personnel did not adhere to CRS’s documented policies and procedures for ensuring proper suspension and debarment validations were performed prior to entering a covered transaction. Effect: Failure to timely verify that a vendor is not suspended or debarred could result in transactions involving unreasonable costs or result in unintentionally entering into a contract with an entity that is barred from performing work for the Federal government. Repeat Finding: This is a repeat of finding 2022-003. Recommendation: We recommend that management ensure that suspension and debarment regulations are followed. Views of Responsible Officials: Management notes that the total comprehensive checks executed against major watchlists (including SAM.gov) in CRS totaled 24,513 (unaudited) in FY 2023 alone. While management agrees with BDO's assessment of the samples, it should be noted that CRS is strongly committed to compliance with applicable suspension and debarment regulations. Please see Appendix B for Management’s Corrective Action Plan.

2023-002 Compliance with Procurement, Suspension and Debarment Requirement Information on the Federal Program: U.S. Department of State Assistance Listing Number: 19.517 Assistance Listing Name: Overseas Refugee Assistance for Africa Grant Award Number: Direct Award Number Award Period SPRMCO23CA0016 November 21, 2022 through July 31, 2024 Criteria or Specific Requirement: In accordance with 2 CFR §200.318(a), General Procurement Standards, the non-federal entity must use its own documented procurement procedures which reflect applicable State, local, and tribal laws and regulations, provided that the procurements conform to applicable federal law and the standards identified in General Procurement Standards. Additionally, §200.318(i) states that the non-federal entity must maintain records sufficient to detail the history of the procurement. These records are required to include, but are not necessarily limited to the following: rationale for the method of procurement, selection of contract type, contractor selection or rejection, and the basis for the contract price. In accordance with §200.213 and §180.300, Suspension and Debarment, non-federal entities cannot enter into awards, subawards, or contracts with certain parties that are debarred, suspended, or otherwise excluded from or ineligible for participation in federal assistance programs or activities. Non-federal entities must either check for exclusions in the System for Award Management (SAM); collect a certification from the entity, or add a clause or condition to the covered transaction with the entity prior to entering into a covered transaction with a non-federal entity. In addition, in accordance with §180.415(b), non-federal entities cannot renew or extend covered transactions (other than no-cost time extension) with any excluded person, or under which an excluded person is a principal, unless the non-federal entity obtains an exception under §180.135. Condition: During our testing of the procurement, suspension and debarment compliance requirements, we identified one procurement sample out of a total of six procurement samples tested wherein management was unable to provide evidence that the suspension and debarment check was performed prior to entering into contract with the vendor. Management has subsequently determined that the vendor was not suspended or debarred. Questioned Costs: There are no known or likely questioned costs. Context: This is a condition based on testing of CRS’s compliance with specified requirements. The prevalence of the finding is detailed in the condition section above. The samples were selected using a non-statistical method. Cause: CRS country office personnel did not adhere to CRS’s documented policies and procedures for ensuring proper suspension and debarment validations were performed prior to entering a covered transaction. Effect: Failure to timely verify that a vendor is not suspended or debarred could result in transactions involving unreasonable costs or result in unintentionally entering into a contract with an entity that is barred from performing work for the Federal government. Repeat Finding: This is a repeat of finding 2022-003. Recommendation: We recommend that management ensure that suspension and debarment regulations are followed. Views of Responsible Officials: Management notes that the total comprehensive checks executed against major watchlists (including SAM.gov) in CRS totaled 24,513 (unaudited) in FY 2023 alone. While management agrees with BDO's assessment of the samples, it should be noted that CRS is strongly committed to compliance with applicable suspension and debarment regulations. Please see Appendix B for Management’s Corrective Action Plan.