Audit 302287

FY End
2022-12-31
Total Expended
$1.16M
Findings
4
Programs
5
Organization: Ward County (ND)
Year: 2022 Accepted: 2024-04-02
Auditor: Widmer Roel PC

Organization Exclusion Status:

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Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
392118 2022-002 Material Weakness - I
392119 2022-003 Material Weakness - M
968560 2022-002 Material Weakness - I
968561 2022-003 Material Weakness - M

Contacts

Name Title Type
QC2KQ9QBSYD8 Marisa Haman Auditee
7018576417 Craig Hashbarger Auditor
No contacts on file

Notes to SEFA

Title: NOTE 1 – BASIS OF PRESENTATION Accounting Policies: Expenditures reported on the schedule are presented on the accrual basis of accounting. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in Subpart E of the Uniform Guidance, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: Ward County has not elected to use the 10 percent de minimis cost rate as allowed under Uniform Guidance. The accompanying schedule of expenditures of federal awards (the “Schedule”) includes the federal grant activity of Ward County under programs of the federal government for the year ended December 31, 2022. The information in this 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 Ward County, it is not intended to and does not present the financial position or changes in net assets of Ward County. Expenditures represent only the federally funded portions of the program. County records should be consulted to determine amounts expended or matched from non-federal sources.
Title: NOTE 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Accounting Policies: Expenditures reported on the schedule are presented on the accrual basis of accounting. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in Subpart E of the Uniform Guidance, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: Ward County has not elected to use the 10 percent de minimis cost rate as allowed under Uniform Guidance. Expenditures reported on the schedule are presented on the accrual basis of accounting. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in Subpart E of the Uniform Guidance, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement.
Title: NOTE 3 – INDIRECT COST RATE Accounting Policies: Expenditures reported on the schedule are presented on the accrual basis of accounting. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in Subpart E of the Uniform Guidance, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: Ward County has not elected to use the 10 percent de minimis cost rate as allowed under Uniform Guidance. Ward County has not elected to use the 10 percent de minimis cost rate as allowed under Uniform Guidance.

Finding Details

(MATERIAL WEAKNESS) – SUSPENDED AND DEBARRED PARTIES – ALN 21.027 – COVID-19 – CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS Condition The County did not have an effective process in place to ensure subrecipients of pass-through federal awards were not suspended or debarred from participating in federally-supported programs. Criteria The Federal Compliance Supplement and 2 CFR Section 180.300 requires grant recipients and subrecipients to verify contractors and subrecipients are not suspended or debarred from performing covered transactions. Such verification may include 1) checking the System for Award Management (SAM) Exclusions; 2) collecting a certification from the entity or 3) adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that entity. Cause Management was not aware of how to search for suspended or debarred parties on the SAM.gov website and did not have procedures to include explicit language in its subrecipient contracts/agreements. Recommendation We recommend the County adopt controls to ensure contractors and subrecipients are not suspended or debarred. Questioned Costs None noted Views of Responsible Officials The county added information to the Payment Request Form to make sub recipients aware that their organization along with any respective Contractors need an active UEI and must be registered in SAM. Effect There is a risk the County could enter into covered transactions with suspended or debarred parties.
(MATERIAL WEAKNESS) – SUBRECIPIENT MONITORING– ALN 21.027 – COVID-19 – CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS Condition The County did not have an effective process in place to ensure required communications occur with subrecipients of federal awards. The agreements with the subrecipients did not explicitly include certain information required under 2 CFR 200.332(a)(1). Criteria The Federal Compliance Supplement and 2 CFR Section 200.332 requires pass-through entities to communicate and clearly identify to the subrecipient: 1) the award as a subaward at the time of the subaward by providing the information described in 2 CFR section 200.332(a)(1); 2) all requirements imposed by the pass-through entity on the subrecipient so that the federal award is used in accordance with federal statutes, regulations, and terms and conditions of the award; and 3) any additional requirements the pass-through entity imposes on the subrecipient in order for the pass-through entity to meet its own responsibility for the federal award. It also requires the pass-through entity to verify that every subrecipient is audited under the Uniform Guidance when required. Cause Management was not aware of the additional communication requirements imposed on pass-through entities. Effect There is a risk of noncompliance with the subrecipient monitoring communications, as well as a risk the subrecipient(s) may not be audited in accordance with the Uniform Guidance when required. Recommendation We recommend the County update its communications with subrecipients to include the required communications of the subrecipients’ responsibilities under the federal requirements, grant agreements and award requirements including, but not limited to its audit obligations under the Uniform Guidance. Questioned Costs None noted Views of Responsible Officials The county added information to the Payment Request Form to ensure that sub recipients are aware of possible single audit requirements, active SAM registry and UEI.
(MATERIAL WEAKNESS) – SUSPENDED AND DEBARRED PARTIES – ALN 21.027 – COVID-19 – CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS Condition The County did not have an effective process in place to ensure subrecipients of pass-through federal awards were not suspended or debarred from participating in federally-supported programs. Criteria The Federal Compliance Supplement and 2 CFR Section 180.300 requires grant recipients and subrecipients to verify contractors and subrecipients are not suspended or debarred from performing covered transactions. Such verification may include 1) checking the System for Award Management (SAM) Exclusions; 2) collecting a certification from the entity or 3) adding a clause or condition to the covered transaction with that entity. Cause Management was not aware of how to search for suspended or debarred parties on the SAM.gov website and did not have procedures to include explicit language in its subrecipient contracts/agreements. Recommendation We recommend the County adopt controls to ensure contractors and subrecipients are not suspended or debarred. Questioned Costs None noted Views of Responsible Officials The county added information to the Payment Request Form to make sub recipients aware that their organization along with any respective Contractors need an active UEI and must be registered in SAM. Effect There is a risk the County could enter into covered transactions with suspended or debarred parties.
(MATERIAL WEAKNESS) – SUBRECIPIENT MONITORING– ALN 21.027 – COVID-19 – CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS Condition The County did not have an effective process in place to ensure required communications occur with subrecipients of federal awards. The agreements with the subrecipients did not explicitly include certain information required under 2 CFR 200.332(a)(1). Criteria The Federal Compliance Supplement and 2 CFR Section 200.332 requires pass-through entities to communicate and clearly identify to the subrecipient: 1) the award as a subaward at the time of the subaward by providing the information described in 2 CFR section 200.332(a)(1); 2) all requirements imposed by the pass-through entity on the subrecipient so that the federal award is used in accordance with federal statutes, regulations, and terms and conditions of the award; and 3) any additional requirements the pass-through entity imposes on the subrecipient in order for the pass-through entity to meet its own responsibility for the federal award. It also requires the pass-through entity to verify that every subrecipient is audited under the Uniform Guidance when required. Cause Management was not aware of the additional communication requirements imposed on pass-through entities. Effect There is a risk of noncompliance with the subrecipient monitoring communications, as well as a risk the subrecipient(s) may not be audited in accordance with the Uniform Guidance when required. Recommendation We recommend the County update its communications with subrecipients to include the required communications of the subrecipients’ responsibilities under the federal requirements, grant agreements and award requirements including, but not limited to its audit obligations under the Uniform Guidance. Questioned Costs None noted Views of Responsible Officials The county added information to the Payment Request Form to ensure that sub recipients are aware of possible single audit requirements, active SAM registry and UEI.