Audit 309953

Questioned Cost $ 5,174 Finding No. 2023 002: Activities Allowed and Unallowed (Control Deficiency) Allowable Costs and Cost Principles (Control Deficiency) Federal Agency: U.S. Department of State Assistance Listing Number and Title: 19.015 – Cultural, Technical and Educational Centers Condition During our audit, we noted the following instances of noncompliance: Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles Due to the application of an incorrect allocation rate, we noted salaries and wages were inaccurately allocated to the Cultural, Technical and Educational Centers program for 2 out of 26 individuals selected for testing. Furthermore, at the end of the fiscal year, management recorded an adjustment in an attempt to correct the error, however, the amounts calculated in the adjustment were inaccurate. Criteria Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles Section 200.403 – Factors affecting allowability of costs of Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (“CFR”) Part 200, states “costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: (a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles… (g) Be adequately documented.” Cause Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles We were informed by management that the inaccurate allocation of amounts to the Cultural, Technical and Educational Centers program may be due to the untimely updating of level of effort allocation percentages on the individual’s “Personnel Budget Form.” The inaccurate calculation of amounts included in the correcting adjustment may be attributed to general management oversight. Effect Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles Failure to adhere to the allowable cost principles of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200 exposes the Center to an undue risk of misuse of federal funds. Furthermore, the inaccurate calculation of amounts included in the correcting adjustment resulted in the following: • An overstatement of $5,174 in expenditures allocated to the Cultural, Technical and Educational Centers grant. • An overstatement of $5,032 in expenditures allocated to a non Federal grant. • An overstatement of $24 in expenditures allocated to the U.S. Agency for International Development – Foreign Assistance for Program Overseas grant. • An understatement of $10,229 in expenditures allocated to the U.S. Department of State – Public Diplomacy Programs grant. Context Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles A sample of 26 salaries and wages related expenditures totaling approximately $117,000 were selected for audit from a population of approximately $14,020,000 in salaries and wages related expenditures. Our test found two instances in which salaries and wages were erroneously recorded under the Cultural, Technical and Educational Centers program. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. Repeat Finding This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation We recommend that the Center perform the following to ensure compliance: Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles Ensure the level of effort allocation percentages on an individual’s “Personnel Budget Form” are updated in an accurate and timely manner. Also, ensure that correcting adjustments, as necessary, are calculated in an accurate manner. Cause and View of Responsible Officials Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles New payroll allocation procedures were implemented during fiscal 2023 in an effort to streamline the allocation process. Starting in fiscal 2024, management has reverted to the fiscal 2022 payroll allocation procedures to ensure that the proper percentages are used in calculating charges to its contracts and grants. The procedures used in fiscal 2022 and prior resulted in clean audit opinions and can be trusted to allocate payroll properly. The allocation errors noted during the audit were corrected in the subsequent fiscal year.

$4,521 Finding No. 2023 003: Activities Allowed and Unallowed (Control Deficiency) Allowable Costs and Cost Principles (Control Deficiency) Reporting (Control Deficiency) Subrecipient Monitoring (Control Deficiency) Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Commerce U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Agency for International Development Assistance Listing Number and Title: 11.431 – Climate and Atmospheric Research 11.468 – Applied Meteorological Research 15.820 – National and Regional Climate Adaptation on Science Centers 98.001 – Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas Condition During our audit, we noted the following instances of noncompliance: Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles We noted the following with regards to salaries and wages expenditures selected for testing: Due to the application of an incorrect allocation rate, we noted salaries and wages were inaccurately allocated to the Research and Development Cluster (“R&D Cluster”) program for 4 out of 16 individuals selected for testing. We noted that at the end of the fiscal year management recorded an adjustment in an attempt to correct the error, however, for two of the impacted individuals the amounts calculated in the adjustment were inaccurate. For the remaining two individuals, the amounts calculated in the adjustment were accurate, however the program accounts to which such costs were approved to be allocated as stated per the individual’s “Personnel Budget Form” did not agree to the actual program accounts to which the expenses were recorded in the Center’s general ledger. In addition to the samples selected for testing, we noted salaries and wages were inaccurately allocated to the R&D Cluster program for one individual due to the application of an incorrect allocation rate. We noted the following with regards to non-salaries and wages expenditures selected for testing: We noted that for 3 out of 24 non salaries and wages expenditures selected for testing, we were unable to obtain documentation evidencing Fiscal Officer approval of the expenditure. Reporting We noted two instances in which the Center did not complete the reporting required by Section 2, Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (“FFATA”) for subgrants made during 2023. Subrecipient Monitoring We noted an instance in which the Center did not properly communicate the federal assistance listing number to a subrecipient upon execution of the subaward agreement. Criteria Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles Section 200.403 – Factors affecting allowability of costs of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200, states “costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: (a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles… (g) Be adequately documented.” Reporting Section 2, Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, of the FFATA requires an entity to report subcontracts made under federally-awarded contracts by the end of the month following the month in which the prime recipient awards any subgrant greater than or equal to $30,000. Section 2, Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, of the FFATA also specifies the data elements to be included by an entity in their reporting submission. Subrecipient Monitoring Section 200.332 – Requirements for pass-through entities of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200, states “All pass-through entities must: (a) Ensure that every subaward is clearly identified to the subrecipient as a subaward and includes the following information at the time of the subaward and if any of these data elements change, include the changes in subsequent subaward modification. When some of this information is not available, the pass-through entity must provide the best information available to describe the Federal award and subaward. Required information includes: (xii) Assistance Listings Number and Title; the pass-through entity must identify the dollar amount made available under each Federal award and the Assistance Listings Number at time of disbursement;” Cause Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles For the identified instances of noncompliance associated with salaries and wages expenditures, we were informed by management that the inaccurate allocation of amounts to the R&D Cluster program may be due to the untimely updating of level of effort allocation percentages on the individual’s “Personnel Budget Form.” The inaccurate calculation of amounts included in the correcting adjustment and the recordation of amounts to inaccurate program accounts within the Center’s general ledger may be attributed to general management oversight. For the identified instances of noncompliance associated with non salaries and wages expenditures, we were informed by management that although the Fiscal Officer has the ability to electronically approve transactions within the general ledger, the historical retention of such information is an additional service which management did not elect to activate. Reporting The lack of FFATA reporting may be attributed to general management oversight. Subrecipient Monitoring We were informed by management that an outdated template which did not include a field for the federal assistance listing number was utilized when executing the subaward agreement. Effect Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles Failure to adhere to the allowable cost principles of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200 exposes the Center to an undue risk of misuse of federal funds. Furthermore, the inaccurate calculation of salaries and wages expenditures included in the correcting adjustment resulted in the following: • An overstatement of $24 in expenditures allocated to the U.S. Agency for International Development – Foreign Assistance for Program Overseas grant within the R&D Cluster grant. • An understatement of $24 in expenditures allocated to the Cultural, Technical and Educational Centers grant. Reporting Failure to file required reports reduces transparency on the use of program funds and represents an instance of noncompliance with the requirements of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200. Subrecipient Monitoring Failure to communicate the required information to subrecipients exposes the Center to an undue risk of misuse of federal funds. Context Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles A sample of 16 salaries and wages expenditures totaling approximately $57,000 were selected for audit from a population of approximately $402,000 in salaries and wages expenditures. Our test found four instances in which salaries and wages were erroneously recorded under the R&D Cluster program. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. A sample of 24 non salaries and wages related expenditures totaling approximately $98,000 were selected for audit from a population of approximately $601,000 in non salaries and wages related expenditures. Our test found three instances in which documentation of the Fiscal Officer approval of the non salaries and wages related expenditures were not properly retained. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. Reporting A sample of two subawards totaling approximately $129,000 were selected for audit from a population of two subawards totaling approximately $129,000. Our test found two instances in which the FFATA reports were not completed in a timely manner. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. Subrecipient Monitoring A sample of one subaward totaling approximately $92,000 was selected for audit from a population of two subawards totaling approximately $129,000. Our test found one instance in which the federal assistance listing number was not properly communicated to the subrecipient upon execution of the subaward agreement. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. Repeat Finding This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation We recommend that the Center perform the following to ensure compliance: Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles With regards to salaries and wages expenditures, ensure the level of effort allocation percentages on an individual’s “Personnel Budget Form” are updated in an accurate and timely manner. Also, ensure that correcting adjustments, as necessary, are calculated and recorded within the general ledger in an accurate manner. With regards to non salaries and wages expenditures, ensure that documentation is maintained evidencing Fiscal Officer approval of the expenditure. Reporting Ensure that required FFATA reports are completed in a timely and accurate manner. Subrecipient Monitoring Ensure that information required pursuant to Section 200.332 – Requirements for pass-through entities of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200 is properly communicated to subrecipients upon execution of a subaward agreement. Cause and View of Responsible Officials Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles New payroll allocation procedures were implemented during fiscal 2023 in an effort to streamline the allocation process. Starting in fiscal 2024, management has reverted to the fiscal 2022 payroll allocation procedures to ensure that the proper percentages are used in calculating charges to its contracts and grants. The procedures used in fiscal 2022 and prior resulted in clean audit opinions and can be trusted to allocate payroll properly. The allocation errors noted during the audit were corrected in the subsequent fiscal year. Reporting The FFATA report was filed in fiscal 2024. Procedures were modified to ensure that necessary information is requested from Center subaward recipients to assist in preparing the FFATA reports. Furthermore, the subaward agreement template was revised to make reference to the need for filing FFATA reports. Subrecipient Monitoring Management has revised procedures to ensure that the subaward recipients are notified of the federal assistance listing number. In addition, Finance staff have been reminded of the necessity to communicate the assistance number to our subaward recipients.

$4,521 Finding No. 2023 003: Activities Allowed and Unallowed (Control Deficiency) Allowable Costs and Cost Principles (Control Deficiency) Reporting (Control Deficiency) Subrecipient Monitoring (Control Deficiency) Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Commerce U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Agency for International Development Assistance Listing Number and Title: 11.431 – Climate and Atmospheric Research 11.468 – Applied Meteorological Research 15.820 – National and Regional Climate Adaptation on Science Centers 98.001 – Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas Condition During our audit, we noted the following instances of noncompliance: Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles We noted the following with regards to salaries and wages expenditures selected for testing: Due to the application of an incorrect allocation rate, we noted salaries and wages were inaccurately allocated to the Research and Development Cluster (“R&D Cluster”) program for 4 out of 16 individuals selected for testing. We noted that at the end of the fiscal year management recorded an adjustment in an attempt to correct the error, however, for two of the impacted individuals the amounts calculated in the adjustment were inaccurate. For the remaining two individuals, the amounts calculated in the adjustment were accurate, however the program accounts to which such costs were approved to be allocated as stated per the individual’s “Personnel Budget Form” did not agree to the actual program accounts to which the expenses were recorded in the Center’s general ledger. In addition to the samples selected for testing, we noted salaries and wages were inaccurately allocated to the R&D Cluster program for one individual due to the application of an incorrect allocation rate. We noted the following with regards to non-salaries and wages expenditures selected for testing: We noted that for 3 out of 24 non salaries and wages expenditures selected for testing, we were unable to obtain documentation evidencing Fiscal Officer approval of the expenditure. Reporting We noted two instances in which the Center did not complete the reporting required by Section 2, Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (“FFATA”) for subgrants made during 2023. Subrecipient Monitoring We noted an instance in which the Center did not properly communicate the federal assistance listing number to a subrecipient upon execution of the subaward agreement. Criteria Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles Section 200.403 – Factors affecting allowability of costs of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200, states “costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: (a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles… (g) Be adequately documented.” Reporting Section 2, Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, of the FFATA requires an entity to report subcontracts made under federally-awarded contracts by the end of the month following the month in which the prime recipient awards any subgrant greater than or equal to $30,000. Section 2, Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, of the FFATA also specifies the data elements to be included by an entity in their reporting submission. Subrecipient Monitoring Section 200.332 – Requirements for pass-through entities of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200, states “All pass-through entities must: (a) Ensure that every subaward is clearly identified to the subrecipient as a subaward and includes the following information at the time of the subaward and if any of these data elements change, include the changes in subsequent subaward modification. When some of this information is not available, the pass-through entity must provide the best information available to describe the Federal award and subaward. Required information includes: (xii) Assistance Listings Number and Title; the pass-through entity must identify the dollar amount made available under each Federal award and the Assistance Listings Number at time of disbursement;” Cause Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles For the identified instances of noncompliance associated with salaries and wages expenditures, we were informed by management that the inaccurate allocation of amounts to the R&D Cluster program may be due to the untimely updating of level of effort allocation percentages on the individual’s “Personnel Budget Form.” The inaccurate calculation of amounts included in the correcting adjustment and the recordation of amounts to inaccurate program accounts within the Center’s general ledger may be attributed to general management oversight. For the identified instances of noncompliance associated with non salaries and wages expenditures, we were informed by management that although the Fiscal Officer has the ability to electronically approve transactions within the general ledger, the historical retention of such information is an additional service which management did not elect to activate. Reporting The lack of FFATA reporting may be attributed to general management oversight. Subrecipient Monitoring We were informed by management that an outdated template which did not include a field for the federal assistance listing number was utilized when executing the subaward agreement. Effect Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles Failure to adhere to the allowable cost principles of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200 exposes the Center to an undue risk of misuse of federal funds. Furthermore, the inaccurate calculation of salaries and wages expenditures included in the correcting adjustment resulted in the following: • An overstatement of $24 in expenditures allocated to the U.S. Agency for International Development – Foreign Assistance for Program Overseas grant within the R&D Cluster grant. • An understatement of $24 in expenditures allocated to the Cultural, Technical and Educational Centers grant. Reporting Failure to file required reports reduces transparency on the use of program funds and represents an instance of noncompliance with the requirements of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200. Subrecipient Monitoring Failure to communicate the required information to subrecipients exposes the Center to an undue risk of misuse of federal funds. Context Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles A sample of 16 salaries and wages expenditures totaling approximately $57,000 were selected for audit from a population of approximately $402,000 in salaries and wages expenditures. Our test found four instances in which salaries and wages were erroneously recorded under the R&D Cluster program. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. A sample of 24 non salaries and wages related expenditures totaling approximately $98,000 were selected for audit from a population of approximately $601,000 in non salaries and wages related expenditures. Our test found three instances in which documentation of the Fiscal Officer approval of the non salaries and wages related expenditures were not properly retained. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. Reporting A sample of two subawards totaling approximately $129,000 were selected for audit from a population of two subawards totaling approximately $129,000. Our test found two instances in which the FFATA reports were not completed in a timely manner. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. Subrecipient Monitoring A sample of one subaward totaling approximately $92,000 was selected for audit from a population of two subawards totaling approximately $129,000. Our test found one instance in which the federal assistance listing number was not properly communicated to the subrecipient upon execution of the subaward agreement. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. Repeat Finding This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation We recommend that the Center perform the following to ensure compliance: Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles With regards to salaries and wages expenditures, ensure the level of effort allocation percentages on an individual’s “Personnel Budget Form” are updated in an accurate and timely manner. Also, ensure that correcting adjustments, as necessary, are calculated and recorded within the general ledger in an accurate manner. With regards to non salaries and wages expenditures, ensure that documentation is maintained evidencing Fiscal Officer approval of the expenditure. Reporting Ensure that required FFATA reports are completed in a timely and accurate manner. Subrecipient Monitoring Ensure that information required pursuant to Section 200.332 – Requirements for pass-through entities of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200 is properly communicated to subrecipients upon execution of a subaward agreement. Cause and View of Responsible Officials Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles New payroll allocation procedures were implemented during fiscal 2023 in an effort to streamline the allocation process. Starting in fiscal 2024, management has reverted to the fiscal 2022 payroll allocation procedures to ensure that the proper percentages are used in calculating charges to its contracts and grants. The procedures used in fiscal 2022 and prior resulted in clean audit opinions and can be trusted to allocate payroll properly. The allocation errors noted during the audit were corrected in the subsequent fiscal year. Reporting The FFATA report was filed in fiscal 2024. Procedures were modified to ensure that necessary information is requested from Center subaward recipients to assist in preparing the FFATA reports. Furthermore, the subaward agreement template was revised to make reference to the need for filing FFATA reports. Subrecipient Monitoring Management has revised procedures to ensure that the subaward recipients are notified of the federal assistance listing number. In addition, Finance staff have been reminded of the necessity to communicate the assistance number to our subaward recipients.

$4,521 Finding No. 2023 003: Activities Allowed and Unallowed (Control Deficiency) Allowable Costs and Cost Principles (Control Deficiency) Reporting (Control Deficiency) Subrecipient Monitoring (Control Deficiency) Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Commerce U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Agency for International Development Assistance Listing Number and Title: 11.431 – Climate and Atmospheric Research 11.468 – Applied Meteorological Research 15.820 – National and Regional Climate Adaptation on Science Centers 98.001 – Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas Condition During our audit, we noted the following instances of noncompliance: Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles We noted the following with regards to salaries and wages expenditures selected for testing: Due to the application of an incorrect allocation rate, we noted salaries and wages were inaccurately allocated to the Research and Development Cluster (“R&D Cluster”) program for 4 out of 16 individuals selected for testing. We noted that at the end of the fiscal year management recorded an adjustment in an attempt to correct the error, however, for two of the impacted individuals the amounts calculated in the adjustment were inaccurate. For the remaining two individuals, the amounts calculated in the adjustment were accurate, however the program accounts to which such costs were approved to be allocated as stated per the individual’s “Personnel Budget Form” did not agree to the actual program accounts to which the expenses were recorded in the Center’s general ledger. In addition to the samples selected for testing, we noted salaries and wages were inaccurately allocated to the R&D Cluster program for one individual due to the application of an incorrect allocation rate. We noted the following with regards to non-salaries and wages expenditures selected for testing: We noted that for 3 out of 24 non salaries and wages expenditures selected for testing, we were unable to obtain documentation evidencing Fiscal Officer approval of the expenditure. Reporting We noted two instances in which the Center did not complete the reporting required by Section 2, Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (“FFATA”) for subgrants made during 2023. Subrecipient Monitoring We noted an instance in which the Center did not properly communicate the federal assistance listing number to a subrecipient upon execution of the subaward agreement. Criteria Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles Section 200.403 – Factors affecting allowability of costs of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200, states “costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: (a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles… (g) Be adequately documented.” Reporting Section 2, Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, of the FFATA requires an entity to report subcontracts made under federally-awarded contracts by the end of the month following the month in which the prime recipient awards any subgrant greater than or equal to $30,000. Section 2, Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, of the FFATA also specifies the data elements to be included by an entity in their reporting submission. Subrecipient Monitoring Section 200.332 – Requirements for pass-through entities of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200, states “All pass-through entities must: (a) Ensure that every subaward is clearly identified to the subrecipient as a subaward and includes the following information at the time of the subaward and if any of these data elements change, include the changes in subsequent subaward modification. When some of this information is not available, the pass-through entity must provide the best information available to describe the Federal award and subaward. Required information includes: (xii) Assistance Listings Number and Title; the pass-through entity must identify the dollar amount made available under each Federal award and the Assistance Listings Number at time of disbursement;” Cause Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles For the identified instances of noncompliance associated with salaries and wages expenditures, we were informed by management that the inaccurate allocation of amounts to the R&D Cluster program may be due to the untimely updating of level of effort allocation percentages on the individual’s “Personnel Budget Form.” The inaccurate calculation of amounts included in the correcting adjustment and the recordation of amounts to inaccurate program accounts within the Center’s general ledger may be attributed to general management oversight. For the identified instances of noncompliance associated with non salaries and wages expenditures, we were informed by management that although the Fiscal Officer has the ability to electronically approve transactions within the general ledger, the historical retention of such information is an additional service which management did not elect to activate. Reporting The lack of FFATA reporting may be attributed to general management oversight. Subrecipient Monitoring We were informed by management that an outdated template which did not include a field for the federal assistance listing number was utilized when executing the subaward agreement. Effect Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles Failure to adhere to the allowable cost principles of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200 exposes the Center to an undue risk of misuse of federal funds. Furthermore, the inaccurate calculation of salaries and wages expenditures included in the correcting adjustment resulted in the following: • An overstatement of $24 in expenditures allocated to the U.S. Agency for International Development – Foreign Assistance for Program Overseas grant within the R&D Cluster grant. • An understatement of $24 in expenditures allocated to the Cultural, Technical and Educational Centers grant. Reporting Failure to file required reports reduces transparency on the use of program funds and represents an instance of noncompliance with the requirements of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200. Subrecipient Monitoring Failure to communicate the required information to subrecipients exposes the Center to an undue risk of misuse of federal funds. Context Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles A sample of 16 salaries and wages expenditures totaling approximately $57,000 were selected for audit from a population of approximately $402,000 in salaries and wages expenditures. Our test found four instances in which salaries and wages were erroneously recorded under the R&D Cluster program. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. A sample of 24 non salaries and wages related expenditures totaling approximately $98,000 were selected for audit from a population of approximately $601,000 in non salaries and wages related expenditures. Our test found three instances in which documentation of the Fiscal Officer approval of the non salaries and wages related expenditures were not properly retained. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. Reporting A sample of two subawards totaling approximately $129,000 were selected for audit from a population of two subawards totaling approximately $129,000. Our test found two instances in which the FFATA reports were not completed in a timely manner. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. Subrecipient Monitoring A sample of one subaward totaling approximately $92,000 was selected for audit from a population of two subawards totaling approximately $129,000. Our test found one instance in which the federal assistance listing number was not properly communicated to the subrecipient upon execution of the subaward agreement. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. Repeat Finding This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation We recommend that the Center perform the following to ensure compliance: Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles With regards to salaries and wages expenditures, ensure the level of effort allocation percentages on an individual’s “Personnel Budget Form” are updated in an accurate and timely manner. Also, ensure that correcting adjustments, as necessary, are calculated and recorded within the general ledger in an accurate manner. With regards to non salaries and wages expenditures, ensure that documentation is maintained evidencing Fiscal Officer approval of the expenditure. Reporting Ensure that required FFATA reports are completed in a timely and accurate manner. Subrecipient Monitoring Ensure that information required pursuant to Section 200.332 – Requirements for pass-through entities of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200 is properly communicated to subrecipients upon execution of a subaward agreement. Cause and View of Responsible Officials Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles New payroll allocation procedures were implemented during fiscal 2023 in an effort to streamline the allocation process. Starting in fiscal 2024, management has reverted to the fiscal 2022 payroll allocation procedures to ensure that the proper percentages are used in calculating charges to its contracts and grants. The procedures used in fiscal 2022 and prior resulted in clean audit opinions and can be trusted to allocate payroll properly. The allocation errors noted during the audit were corrected in the subsequent fiscal year. Reporting The FFATA report was filed in fiscal 2024. Procedures were modified to ensure that necessary information is requested from Center subaward recipients to assist in preparing the FFATA reports. Furthermore, the subaward agreement template was revised to make reference to the need for filing FFATA reports. Subrecipient Monitoring Management has revised procedures to ensure that the subaward recipients are notified of the federal assistance listing number. In addition, Finance staff have been reminded of the necessity to communicate the assistance number to our subaward recipients.

$4,521 Finding No. 2023 003: Activities Allowed and Unallowed (Control Deficiency) Allowable Costs and Cost Principles (Control Deficiency) Reporting (Control Deficiency) Subrecipient Monitoring (Control Deficiency) Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Commerce U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Agency for International Development Assistance Listing Number and Title: 11.431 – Climate and Atmospheric Research 11.468 – Applied Meteorological Research 15.820 – National and Regional Climate Adaptation on Science Centers 98.001 – Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas Condition During our audit, we noted the following instances of noncompliance: Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles We noted the following with regards to salaries and wages expenditures selected for testing: Due to the application of an incorrect allocation rate, we noted salaries and wages were inaccurately allocated to the Research and Development Cluster (“R&D Cluster”) program for 4 out of 16 individuals selected for testing. We noted that at the end of the fiscal year management recorded an adjustment in an attempt to correct the error, however, for two of the impacted individuals the amounts calculated in the adjustment were inaccurate. For the remaining two individuals, the amounts calculated in the adjustment were accurate, however the program accounts to which such costs were approved to be allocated as stated per the individual’s “Personnel Budget Form” did not agree to the actual program accounts to which the expenses were recorded in the Center’s general ledger. In addition to the samples selected for testing, we noted salaries and wages were inaccurately allocated to the R&D Cluster program for one individual due to the application of an incorrect allocation rate. We noted the following with regards to non-salaries and wages expenditures selected for testing: We noted that for 3 out of 24 non salaries and wages expenditures selected for testing, we were unable to obtain documentation evidencing Fiscal Officer approval of the expenditure. Reporting We noted two instances in which the Center did not complete the reporting required by Section 2, Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (“FFATA”) for subgrants made during 2023. Subrecipient Monitoring We noted an instance in which the Center did not properly communicate the federal assistance listing number to a subrecipient upon execution of the subaward agreement. Criteria Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles Section 200.403 – Factors affecting allowability of costs of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200, states “costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: (a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles… (g) Be adequately documented.” Reporting Section 2, Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, of the FFATA requires an entity to report subcontracts made under federally-awarded contracts by the end of the month following the month in which the prime recipient awards any subgrant greater than or equal to $30,000. Section 2, Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, of the FFATA also specifies the data elements to be included by an entity in their reporting submission. Subrecipient Monitoring Section 200.332 – Requirements for pass-through entities of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200, states “All pass-through entities must: (a) Ensure that every subaward is clearly identified to the subrecipient as a subaward and includes the following information at the time of the subaward and if any of these data elements change, include the changes in subsequent subaward modification. When some of this information is not available, the pass-through entity must provide the best information available to describe the Federal award and subaward. Required information includes: (xii) Assistance Listings Number and Title; the pass-through entity must identify the dollar amount made available under each Federal award and the Assistance Listings Number at time of disbursement;” Cause Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles For the identified instances of noncompliance associated with salaries and wages expenditures, we were informed by management that the inaccurate allocation of amounts to the R&D Cluster program may be due to the untimely updating of level of effort allocation percentages on the individual’s “Personnel Budget Form.” The inaccurate calculation of amounts included in the correcting adjustment and the recordation of amounts to inaccurate program accounts within the Center’s general ledger may be attributed to general management oversight. For the identified instances of noncompliance associated with non salaries and wages expenditures, we were informed by management that although the Fiscal Officer has the ability to electronically approve transactions within the general ledger, the historical retention of such information is an additional service which management did not elect to activate. Reporting The lack of FFATA reporting may be attributed to general management oversight. Subrecipient Monitoring We were informed by management that an outdated template which did not include a field for the federal assistance listing number was utilized when executing the subaward agreement. Effect Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles Failure to adhere to the allowable cost principles of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200 exposes the Center to an undue risk of misuse of federal funds. Furthermore, the inaccurate calculation of salaries and wages expenditures included in the correcting adjustment resulted in the following: • An overstatement of $24 in expenditures allocated to the U.S. Agency for International Development – Foreign Assistance for Program Overseas grant within the R&D Cluster grant. • An understatement of $24 in expenditures allocated to the Cultural, Technical and Educational Centers grant. Reporting Failure to file required reports reduces transparency on the use of program funds and represents an instance of noncompliance with the requirements of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200. Subrecipient Monitoring Failure to communicate the required information to subrecipients exposes the Center to an undue risk of misuse of federal funds. Context Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles A sample of 16 salaries and wages expenditures totaling approximately $57,000 were selected for audit from a population of approximately $402,000 in salaries and wages expenditures. Our test found four instances in which salaries and wages were erroneously recorded under the R&D Cluster program. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. A sample of 24 non salaries and wages related expenditures totaling approximately $98,000 were selected for audit from a population of approximately $601,000 in non salaries and wages related expenditures. Our test found three instances in which documentation of the Fiscal Officer approval of the non salaries and wages related expenditures were not properly retained. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. Reporting A sample of two subawards totaling approximately $129,000 were selected for audit from a population of two subawards totaling approximately $129,000. Our test found two instances in which the FFATA reports were not completed in a timely manner. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. Subrecipient Monitoring A sample of one subaward totaling approximately $92,000 was selected for audit from a population of two subawards totaling approximately $129,000. Our test found one instance in which the federal assistance listing number was not properly communicated to the subrecipient upon execution of the subaward agreement. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. Repeat Finding This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation We recommend that the Center perform the following to ensure compliance: Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles With regards to salaries and wages expenditures, ensure the level of effort allocation percentages on an individual’s “Personnel Budget Form” are updated in an accurate and timely manner. Also, ensure that correcting adjustments, as necessary, are calculated and recorded within the general ledger in an accurate manner. With regards to non salaries and wages expenditures, ensure that documentation is maintained evidencing Fiscal Officer approval of the expenditure. Reporting Ensure that required FFATA reports are completed in a timely and accurate manner. Subrecipient Monitoring Ensure that information required pursuant to Section 200.332 – Requirements for pass-through entities of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200 is properly communicated to subrecipients upon execution of a subaward agreement. Cause and View of Responsible Officials Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles New payroll allocation procedures were implemented during fiscal 2023 in an effort to streamline the allocation process. Starting in fiscal 2024, management has reverted to the fiscal 2022 payroll allocation procedures to ensure that the proper percentages are used in calculating charges to its contracts and grants. The procedures used in fiscal 2022 and prior resulted in clean audit opinions and can be trusted to allocate payroll properly. The allocation errors noted during the audit were corrected in the subsequent fiscal year. Reporting The FFATA report was filed in fiscal 2024. Procedures were modified to ensure that necessary information is requested from Center subaward recipients to assist in preparing the FFATA reports. Furthermore, the subaward agreement template was revised to make reference to the need for filing FFATA reports. Subrecipient Monitoring Management has revised procedures to ensure that the subaward recipients are notified of the federal assistance listing number. In addition, Finance staff have been reminded of the necessity to communicate the assistance number to our subaward recipients.

$4,521 Finding No. 2023 003: Activities Allowed and Unallowed (Control Deficiency) Allowable Costs and Cost Principles (Control Deficiency) Reporting (Control Deficiency) Subrecipient Monitoring (Control Deficiency) Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Commerce U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Agency for International Development Assistance Listing Number and Title: 11.431 – Climate and Atmospheric Research 11.468 – Applied Meteorological Research 15.820 – National and Regional Climate Adaptation on Science Centers 98.001 – Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas Condition During our audit, we noted the following instances of noncompliance: Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles We noted the following with regards to salaries and wages expenditures selected for testing: Due to the application of an incorrect allocation rate, we noted salaries and wages were inaccurately allocated to the Research and Development Cluster (“R&D Cluster”) program for 4 out of 16 individuals selected for testing. We noted that at the end of the fiscal year management recorded an adjustment in an attempt to correct the error, however, for two of the impacted individuals the amounts calculated in the adjustment were inaccurate. For the remaining two individuals, the amounts calculated in the adjustment were accurate, however the program accounts to which such costs were approved to be allocated as stated per the individual’s “Personnel Budget Form” did not agree to the actual program accounts to which the expenses were recorded in the Center’s general ledger. In addition to the samples selected for testing, we noted salaries and wages were inaccurately allocated to the R&D Cluster program for one individual due to the application of an incorrect allocation rate. We noted the following with regards to non-salaries and wages expenditures selected for testing: We noted that for 3 out of 24 non salaries and wages expenditures selected for testing, we were unable to obtain documentation evidencing Fiscal Officer approval of the expenditure. Reporting We noted two instances in which the Center did not complete the reporting required by Section 2, Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (“FFATA”) for subgrants made during 2023. Subrecipient Monitoring We noted an instance in which the Center did not properly communicate the federal assistance listing number to a subrecipient upon execution of the subaward agreement. Criteria Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles Section 200.403 – Factors affecting allowability of costs of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200, states “costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: (a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles… (g) Be adequately documented.” Reporting Section 2, Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, of the FFATA requires an entity to report subcontracts made under federally-awarded contracts by the end of the month following the month in which the prime recipient awards any subgrant greater than or equal to $30,000. Section 2, Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, of the FFATA also specifies the data elements to be included by an entity in their reporting submission. Subrecipient Monitoring Section 200.332 – Requirements for pass-through entities of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200, states “All pass-through entities must: (a) Ensure that every subaward is clearly identified to the subrecipient as a subaward and includes the following information at the time of the subaward and if any of these data elements change, include the changes in subsequent subaward modification. When some of this information is not available, the pass-through entity must provide the best information available to describe the Federal award and subaward. Required information includes: (xii) Assistance Listings Number and Title; the pass-through entity must identify the dollar amount made available under each Federal award and the Assistance Listings Number at time of disbursement;” Cause Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles For the identified instances of noncompliance associated with salaries and wages expenditures, we were informed by management that the inaccurate allocation of amounts to the R&D Cluster program may be due to the untimely updating of level of effort allocation percentages on the individual’s “Personnel Budget Form.” The inaccurate calculation of amounts included in the correcting adjustment and the recordation of amounts to inaccurate program accounts within the Center’s general ledger may be attributed to general management oversight. For the identified instances of noncompliance associated with non salaries and wages expenditures, we were informed by management that although the Fiscal Officer has the ability to electronically approve transactions within the general ledger, the historical retention of such information is an additional service which management did not elect to activate. Reporting The lack of FFATA reporting may be attributed to general management oversight. Subrecipient Monitoring We were informed by management that an outdated template which did not include a field for the federal assistance listing number was utilized when executing the subaward agreement. Effect Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles Failure to adhere to the allowable cost principles of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200 exposes the Center to an undue risk of misuse of federal funds. Furthermore, the inaccurate calculation of salaries and wages expenditures included in the correcting adjustment resulted in the following: • An overstatement of $24 in expenditures allocated to the U.S. Agency for International Development – Foreign Assistance for Program Overseas grant within the R&D Cluster grant. • An understatement of $24 in expenditures allocated to the Cultural, Technical and Educational Centers grant. Reporting Failure to file required reports reduces transparency on the use of program funds and represents an instance of noncompliance with the requirements of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200. Subrecipient Monitoring Failure to communicate the required information to subrecipients exposes the Center to an undue risk of misuse of federal funds. Context Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles A sample of 16 salaries and wages expenditures totaling approximately $57,000 were selected for audit from a population of approximately $402,000 in salaries and wages expenditures. Our test found four instances in which salaries and wages were erroneously recorded under the R&D Cluster program. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. A sample of 24 non salaries and wages related expenditures totaling approximately $98,000 were selected for audit from a population of approximately $601,000 in non salaries and wages related expenditures. Our test found three instances in which documentation of the Fiscal Officer approval of the non salaries and wages related expenditures were not properly retained. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. Reporting A sample of two subawards totaling approximately $129,000 were selected for audit from a population of two subawards totaling approximately $129,000. Our test found two instances in which the FFATA reports were not completed in a timely manner. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. Subrecipient Monitoring A sample of one subaward totaling approximately $92,000 was selected for audit from a population of two subawards totaling approximately $129,000. Our test found one instance in which the federal assistance listing number was not properly communicated to the subrecipient upon execution of the subaward agreement. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. Repeat Finding This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation We recommend that the Center perform the following to ensure compliance: Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles With regards to salaries and wages expenditures, ensure the level of effort allocation percentages on an individual’s “Personnel Budget Form” are updated in an accurate and timely manner. Also, ensure that correcting adjustments, as necessary, are calculated and recorded within the general ledger in an accurate manner. With regards to non salaries and wages expenditures, ensure that documentation is maintained evidencing Fiscal Officer approval of the expenditure. Reporting Ensure that required FFATA reports are completed in a timely and accurate manner. Subrecipient Monitoring Ensure that information required pursuant to Section 200.332 – Requirements for pass-through entities of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200 is properly communicated to subrecipients upon execution of a subaward agreement. Cause and View of Responsible Officials Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles New payroll allocation procedures were implemented during fiscal 2023 in an effort to streamline the allocation process. Starting in fiscal 2024, management has reverted to the fiscal 2022 payroll allocation procedures to ensure that the proper percentages are used in calculating charges to its contracts and grants. The procedures used in fiscal 2022 and prior resulted in clean audit opinions and can be trusted to allocate payroll properly. The allocation errors noted during the audit were corrected in the subsequent fiscal year. Reporting The FFATA report was filed in fiscal 2024. Procedures were modified to ensure that necessary information is requested from Center subaward recipients to assist in preparing the FFATA reports. Furthermore, the subaward agreement template was revised to make reference to the need for filing FFATA reports. Subrecipient Monitoring Management has revised procedures to ensure that the subaward recipients are notified of the federal assistance listing number. In addition, Finance staff have been reminded of the necessity to communicate the assistance number to our subaward recipients.

Questioned Cost $ 5,174 Finding No. 2023 002: Activities Allowed and Unallowed (Control Deficiency) Allowable Costs and Cost Principles (Control Deficiency) Federal Agency: U.S. Department of State Assistance Listing Number and Title: 19.015 – Cultural, Technical and Educational Centers Condition During our audit, we noted the following instances of noncompliance: Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles Due to the application of an incorrect allocation rate, we noted salaries and wages were inaccurately allocated to the Cultural, Technical and Educational Centers program for 2 out of 26 individuals selected for testing. Furthermore, at the end of the fiscal year, management recorded an adjustment in an attempt to correct the error, however, the amounts calculated in the adjustment were inaccurate. Criteria Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles Section 200.403 – Factors affecting allowability of costs of Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (“CFR”) Part 200, states “costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: (a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles… (g) Be adequately documented.” Cause Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles We were informed by management that the inaccurate allocation of amounts to the Cultural, Technical and Educational Centers program may be due to the untimely updating of level of effort allocation percentages on the individual’s “Personnel Budget Form.” The inaccurate calculation of amounts included in the correcting adjustment may be attributed to general management oversight. Effect Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles Failure to adhere to the allowable cost principles of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200 exposes the Center to an undue risk of misuse of federal funds. Furthermore, the inaccurate calculation of amounts included in the correcting adjustment resulted in the following: • An overstatement of $5,174 in expenditures allocated to the Cultural, Technical and Educational Centers grant. • An overstatement of $5,032 in expenditures allocated to a non Federal grant. • An overstatement of $24 in expenditures allocated to the U.S. Agency for International Development – Foreign Assistance for Program Overseas grant. • An understatement of $10,229 in expenditures allocated to the U.S. Department of State – Public Diplomacy Programs grant. Context Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles A sample of 26 salaries and wages related expenditures totaling approximately $117,000 were selected for audit from a population of approximately $14,020,000 in salaries and wages related expenditures. Our test found two instances in which salaries and wages were erroneously recorded under the Cultural, Technical and Educational Centers program. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. Repeat Finding This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation We recommend that the Center perform the following to ensure compliance: Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles Ensure the level of effort allocation percentages on an individual’s “Personnel Budget Form” are updated in an accurate and timely manner. Also, ensure that correcting adjustments, as necessary, are calculated in an accurate manner. Cause and View of Responsible Officials Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles New payroll allocation procedures were implemented during fiscal 2023 in an effort to streamline the allocation process. Starting in fiscal 2024, management has reverted to the fiscal 2022 payroll allocation procedures to ensure that the proper percentages are used in calculating charges to its contracts and grants. The procedures used in fiscal 2022 and prior resulted in clean audit opinions and can be trusted to allocate payroll properly. The allocation errors noted during the audit were corrected in the subsequent fiscal year.

$4,521 Finding No. 2023 003: Activities Allowed and Unallowed (Control Deficiency) Allowable Costs and Cost Principles (Control Deficiency) Reporting (Control Deficiency) Subrecipient Monitoring (Control Deficiency) Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Commerce U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Agency for International Development Assistance Listing Number and Title: 11.431 – Climate and Atmospheric Research 11.468 – Applied Meteorological Research 15.820 – National and Regional Climate Adaptation on Science Centers 98.001 – Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas Condition During our audit, we noted the following instances of noncompliance: Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles We noted the following with regards to salaries and wages expenditures selected for testing: Due to the application of an incorrect allocation rate, we noted salaries and wages were inaccurately allocated to the Research and Development Cluster (“R&D Cluster”) program for 4 out of 16 individuals selected for testing. We noted that at the end of the fiscal year management recorded an adjustment in an attempt to correct the error, however, for two of the impacted individuals the amounts calculated in the adjustment were inaccurate. For the remaining two individuals, the amounts calculated in the adjustment were accurate, however the program accounts to which such costs were approved to be allocated as stated per the individual’s “Personnel Budget Form” did not agree to the actual program accounts to which the expenses were recorded in the Center’s general ledger. In addition to the samples selected for testing, we noted salaries and wages were inaccurately allocated to the R&D Cluster program for one individual due to the application of an incorrect allocation rate. We noted the following with regards to non-salaries and wages expenditures selected for testing: We noted that for 3 out of 24 non salaries and wages expenditures selected for testing, we were unable to obtain documentation evidencing Fiscal Officer approval of the expenditure. Reporting We noted two instances in which the Center did not complete the reporting required by Section 2, Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (“FFATA”) for subgrants made during 2023. Subrecipient Monitoring We noted an instance in which the Center did not properly communicate the federal assistance listing number to a subrecipient upon execution of the subaward agreement. Criteria Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles Section 200.403 – Factors affecting allowability of costs of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200, states “costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: (a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles… (g) Be adequately documented.” Reporting Section 2, Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, of the FFATA requires an entity to report subcontracts made under federally-awarded contracts by the end of the month following the month in which the prime recipient awards any subgrant greater than or equal to $30,000. Section 2, Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, of the FFATA also specifies the data elements to be included by an entity in their reporting submission. Subrecipient Monitoring Section 200.332 – Requirements for pass-through entities of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200, states “All pass-through entities must: (a) Ensure that every subaward is clearly identified to the subrecipient as a subaward and includes the following information at the time of the subaward and if any of these data elements change, include the changes in subsequent subaward modification. When some of this information is not available, the pass-through entity must provide the best information available to describe the Federal award and subaward. Required information includes: (xii) Assistance Listings Number and Title; the pass-through entity must identify the dollar amount made available under each Federal award and the Assistance Listings Number at time of disbursement;” Cause Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles For the identified instances of noncompliance associated with salaries and wages expenditures, we were informed by management that the inaccurate allocation of amounts to the R&D Cluster program may be due to the untimely updating of level of effort allocation percentages on the individual’s “Personnel Budget Form.” The inaccurate calculation of amounts included in the correcting adjustment and the recordation of amounts to inaccurate program accounts within the Center’s general ledger may be attributed to general management oversight. For the identified instances of noncompliance associated with non salaries and wages expenditures, we were informed by management that although the Fiscal Officer has the ability to electronically approve transactions within the general ledger, the historical retention of such information is an additional service which management did not elect to activate. Reporting The lack of FFATA reporting may be attributed to general management oversight. Subrecipient Monitoring We were informed by management that an outdated template which did not include a field for the federal assistance listing number was utilized when executing the subaward agreement. Effect Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles Failure to adhere to the allowable cost principles of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200 exposes the Center to an undue risk of misuse of federal funds. Furthermore, the inaccurate calculation of salaries and wages expenditures included in the correcting adjustment resulted in the following: • An overstatement of $24 in expenditures allocated to the U.S. Agency for International Development – Foreign Assistance for Program Overseas grant within the R&D Cluster grant. • An understatement of $24 in expenditures allocated to the Cultural, Technical and Educational Centers grant. Reporting Failure to file required reports reduces transparency on the use of program funds and represents an instance of noncompliance with the requirements of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200. Subrecipient Monitoring Failure to communicate the required information to subrecipients exposes the Center to an undue risk of misuse of federal funds. Context Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles A sample of 16 salaries and wages expenditures totaling approximately $57,000 were selected for audit from a population of approximately $402,000 in salaries and wages expenditures. Our test found four instances in which salaries and wages were erroneously recorded under the R&D Cluster program. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. A sample of 24 non salaries and wages related expenditures totaling approximately $98,000 were selected for audit from a population of approximately $601,000 in non salaries and wages related expenditures. Our test found three instances in which documentation of the Fiscal Officer approval of the non salaries and wages related expenditures were not properly retained. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. Reporting A sample of two subawards totaling approximately $129,000 were selected for audit from a population of two subawards totaling approximately $129,000. Our test found two instances in which the FFATA reports were not completed in a timely manner. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. Subrecipient Monitoring A sample of one subaward totaling approximately $92,000 was selected for audit from a population of two subawards totaling approximately $129,000. Our test found one instance in which the federal assistance listing number was not properly communicated to the subrecipient upon execution of the subaward agreement. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. Repeat Finding This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation We recommend that the Center perform the following to ensure compliance: Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles With regards to salaries and wages expenditures, ensure the level of effort allocation percentages on an individual’s “Personnel Budget Form” are updated in an accurate and timely manner. Also, ensure that correcting adjustments, as necessary, are calculated and recorded within the general ledger in an accurate manner. With regards to non salaries and wages expenditures, ensure that documentation is maintained evidencing Fiscal Officer approval of the expenditure. Reporting Ensure that required FFATA reports are completed in a timely and accurate manner. Subrecipient Monitoring Ensure that information required pursuant to Section 200.332 – Requirements for pass-through entities of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200 is properly communicated to subrecipients upon execution of a subaward agreement. Cause and View of Responsible Officials Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles New payroll allocation procedures were implemented during fiscal 2023 in an effort to streamline the allocation process. Starting in fiscal 2024, management has reverted to the fiscal 2022 payroll allocation procedures to ensure that the proper percentages are used in calculating charges to its contracts and grants. The procedures used in fiscal 2022 and prior resulted in clean audit opinions and can be trusted to allocate payroll properly. The allocation errors noted during the audit were corrected in the subsequent fiscal year. Reporting The FFATA report was filed in fiscal 2024. Procedures were modified to ensure that necessary information is requested from Center subaward recipients to assist in preparing the FFATA reports. Furthermore, the subaward agreement template was revised to make reference to the need for filing FFATA reports. Subrecipient Monitoring Management has revised procedures to ensure that the subaward recipients are notified of the federal assistance listing number. In addition, Finance staff have been reminded of the necessity to communicate the assistance number to our subaward recipients.

$4,521 Finding No. 2023 003: Activities Allowed and Unallowed (Control Deficiency) Allowable Costs and Cost Principles (Control Deficiency) Reporting (Control Deficiency) Subrecipient Monitoring (Control Deficiency) Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Commerce U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Agency for International Development Assistance Listing Number and Title: 11.431 – Climate and Atmospheric Research 11.468 – Applied Meteorological Research 15.820 – National and Regional Climate Adaptation on Science Centers 98.001 – Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas Condition During our audit, we noted the following instances of noncompliance: Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles We noted the following with regards to salaries and wages expenditures selected for testing: Due to the application of an incorrect allocation rate, we noted salaries and wages were inaccurately allocated to the Research and Development Cluster (“R&D Cluster”) program for 4 out of 16 individuals selected for testing. We noted that at the end of the fiscal year management recorded an adjustment in an attempt to correct the error, however, for two of the impacted individuals the amounts calculated in the adjustment were inaccurate. For the remaining two individuals, the amounts calculated in the adjustment were accurate, however the program accounts to which such costs were approved to be allocated as stated per the individual’s “Personnel Budget Form” did not agree to the actual program accounts to which the expenses were recorded in the Center’s general ledger. In addition to the samples selected for testing, we noted salaries and wages were inaccurately allocated to the R&D Cluster program for one individual due to the application of an incorrect allocation rate. We noted the following with regards to non-salaries and wages expenditures selected for testing: We noted that for 3 out of 24 non salaries and wages expenditures selected for testing, we were unable to obtain documentation evidencing Fiscal Officer approval of the expenditure. Reporting We noted two instances in which the Center did not complete the reporting required by Section 2, Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (“FFATA”) for subgrants made during 2023. Subrecipient Monitoring We noted an instance in which the Center did not properly communicate the federal assistance listing number to a subrecipient upon execution of the subaward agreement. Criteria Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles Section 200.403 – Factors affecting allowability of costs of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200, states “costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: (a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles… (g) Be adequately documented.” Reporting Section 2, Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, of the FFATA requires an entity to report subcontracts made under federally-awarded contracts by the end of the month following the month in which the prime recipient awards any subgrant greater than or equal to $30,000. Section 2, Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, of the FFATA also specifies the data elements to be included by an entity in their reporting submission. Subrecipient Monitoring Section 200.332 – Requirements for pass-through entities of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200, states “All pass-through entities must: (a) Ensure that every subaward is clearly identified to the subrecipient as a subaward and includes the following information at the time of the subaward and if any of these data elements change, include the changes in subsequent subaward modification. When some of this information is not available, the pass-through entity must provide the best information available to describe the Federal award and subaward. Required information includes: (xii) Assistance Listings Number and Title; the pass-through entity must identify the dollar amount made available under each Federal award and the Assistance Listings Number at time of disbursement;” Cause Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles For the identified instances of noncompliance associated with salaries and wages expenditures, we were informed by management that the inaccurate allocation of amounts to the R&D Cluster program may be due to the untimely updating of level of effort allocation percentages on the individual’s “Personnel Budget Form.” The inaccurate calculation of amounts included in the correcting adjustment and the recordation of amounts to inaccurate program accounts within the Center’s general ledger may be attributed to general management oversight. For the identified instances of noncompliance associated with non salaries and wages expenditures, we were informed by management that although the Fiscal Officer has the ability to electronically approve transactions within the general ledger, the historical retention of such information is an additional service which management did not elect to activate. Reporting The lack of FFATA reporting may be attributed to general management oversight. Subrecipient Monitoring We were informed by management that an outdated template which did not include a field for the federal assistance listing number was utilized when executing the subaward agreement. Effect Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles Failure to adhere to the allowable cost principles of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200 exposes the Center to an undue risk of misuse of federal funds. Furthermore, the inaccurate calculation of salaries and wages expenditures included in the correcting adjustment resulted in the following: • An overstatement of $24 in expenditures allocated to the U.S. Agency for International Development – Foreign Assistance for Program Overseas grant within the R&D Cluster grant. • An understatement of $24 in expenditures allocated to the Cultural, Technical and Educational Centers grant. Reporting Failure to file required reports reduces transparency on the use of program funds and represents an instance of noncompliance with the requirements of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200. Subrecipient Monitoring Failure to communicate the required information to subrecipients exposes the Center to an undue risk of misuse of federal funds. Context Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles A sample of 16 salaries and wages expenditures totaling approximately $57,000 were selected for audit from a population of approximately $402,000 in salaries and wages expenditures. Our test found four instances in which salaries and wages were erroneously recorded under the R&D Cluster program. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. A sample of 24 non salaries and wages related expenditures totaling approximately $98,000 were selected for audit from a population of approximately $601,000 in non salaries and wages related expenditures. Our test found three instances in which documentation of the Fiscal Officer approval of the non salaries and wages related expenditures were not properly retained. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. Reporting A sample of two subawards totaling approximately $129,000 were selected for audit from a population of two subawards totaling approximately $129,000. Our test found two instances in which the FFATA reports were not completed in a timely manner. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. Subrecipient Monitoring A sample of one subaward totaling approximately $92,000 was selected for audit from a population of two subawards totaling approximately $129,000. Our test found one instance in which the federal assistance listing number was not properly communicated to the subrecipient upon execution of the subaward agreement. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. Repeat Finding This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation We recommend that the Center perform the following to ensure compliance: Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles With regards to salaries and wages expenditures, ensure the level of effort allocation percentages on an individual’s “Personnel Budget Form” are updated in an accurate and timely manner. Also, ensure that correcting adjustments, as necessary, are calculated and recorded within the general ledger in an accurate manner. With regards to non salaries and wages expenditures, ensure that documentation is maintained evidencing Fiscal Officer approval of the expenditure. Reporting Ensure that required FFATA reports are completed in a timely and accurate manner. Subrecipient Monitoring Ensure that information required pursuant to Section 200.332 – Requirements for pass-through entities of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200 is properly communicated to subrecipients upon execution of a subaward agreement. Cause and View of Responsible Officials Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles New payroll allocation procedures were implemented during fiscal 2023 in an effort to streamline the allocation process. Starting in fiscal 2024, management has reverted to the fiscal 2022 payroll allocation procedures to ensure that the proper percentages are used in calculating charges to its contracts and grants. The procedures used in fiscal 2022 and prior resulted in clean audit opinions and can be trusted to allocate payroll properly. The allocation errors noted during the audit were corrected in the subsequent fiscal year. Reporting The FFATA report was filed in fiscal 2024. Procedures were modified to ensure that necessary information is requested from Center subaward recipients to assist in preparing the FFATA reports. Furthermore, the subaward agreement template was revised to make reference to the need for filing FFATA reports. Subrecipient Monitoring Management has revised procedures to ensure that the subaward recipients are notified of the federal assistance listing number. In addition, Finance staff have been reminded of the necessity to communicate the assistance number to our subaward recipients.

$4,521 Finding No. 2023 003: Activities Allowed and Unallowed (Control Deficiency) Allowable Costs and Cost Principles (Control Deficiency) Reporting (Control Deficiency) Subrecipient Monitoring (Control Deficiency) Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Commerce U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Agency for International Development Assistance Listing Number and Title: 11.431 – Climate and Atmospheric Research 11.468 – Applied Meteorological Research 15.820 – National and Regional Climate Adaptation on Science Centers 98.001 – Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas Condition During our audit, we noted the following instances of noncompliance: Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles We noted the following with regards to salaries and wages expenditures selected for testing: Due to the application of an incorrect allocation rate, we noted salaries and wages were inaccurately allocated to the Research and Development Cluster (“R&D Cluster”) program for 4 out of 16 individuals selected for testing. We noted that at the end of the fiscal year management recorded an adjustment in an attempt to correct the error, however, for two of the impacted individuals the amounts calculated in the adjustment were inaccurate. For the remaining two individuals, the amounts calculated in the adjustment were accurate, however the program accounts to which such costs were approved to be allocated as stated per the individual’s “Personnel Budget Form” did not agree to the actual program accounts to which the expenses were recorded in the Center’s general ledger. In addition to the samples selected for testing, we noted salaries and wages were inaccurately allocated to the R&D Cluster program for one individual due to the application of an incorrect allocation rate. We noted the following with regards to non-salaries and wages expenditures selected for testing: We noted that for 3 out of 24 non salaries and wages expenditures selected for testing, we were unable to obtain documentation evidencing Fiscal Officer approval of the expenditure. Reporting We noted two instances in which the Center did not complete the reporting required by Section 2, Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (“FFATA”) for subgrants made during 2023. Subrecipient Monitoring We noted an instance in which the Center did not properly communicate the federal assistance listing number to a subrecipient upon execution of the subaward agreement. Criteria Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles Section 200.403 – Factors affecting allowability of costs of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200, states “costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: (a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles… (g) Be adequately documented.” Reporting Section 2, Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, of the FFATA requires an entity to report subcontracts made under federally-awarded contracts by the end of the month following the month in which the prime recipient awards any subgrant greater than or equal to $30,000. Section 2, Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, of the FFATA also specifies the data elements to be included by an entity in their reporting submission. Subrecipient Monitoring Section 200.332 – Requirements for pass-through entities of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200, states “All pass-through entities must: (a) Ensure that every subaward is clearly identified to the subrecipient as a subaward and includes the following information at the time of the subaward and if any of these data elements change, include the changes in subsequent subaward modification. When some of this information is not available, the pass-through entity must provide the best information available to describe the Federal award and subaward. Required information includes: (xii) Assistance Listings Number and Title; the pass-through entity must identify the dollar amount made available under each Federal award and the Assistance Listings Number at time of disbursement;” Cause Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles For the identified instances of noncompliance associated with salaries and wages expenditures, we were informed by management that the inaccurate allocation of amounts to the R&D Cluster program may be due to the untimely updating of level of effort allocation percentages on the individual’s “Personnel Budget Form.” The inaccurate calculation of amounts included in the correcting adjustment and the recordation of amounts to inaccurate program accounts within the Center’s general ledger may be attributed to general management oversight. For the identified instances of noncompliance associated with non salaries and wages expenditures, we were informed by management that although the Fiscal Officer has the ability to electronically approve transactions within the general ledger, the historical retention of such information is an additional service which management did not elect to activate. Reporting The lack of FFATA reporting may be attributed to general management oversight. Subrecipient Monitoring We were informed by management that an outdated template which did not include a field for the federal assistance listing number was utilized when executing the subaward agreement. Effect Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles Failure to adhere to the allowable cost principles of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200 exposes the Center to an undue risk of misuse of federal funds. Furthermore, the inaccurate calculation of salaries and wages expenditures included in the correcting adjustment resulted in the following: • An overstatement of $24 in expenditures allocated to the U.S. Agency for International Development – Foreign Assistance for Program Overseas grant within the R&D Cluster grant. • An understatement of $24 in expenditures allocated to the Cultural, Technical and Educational Centers grant. Reporting Failure to file required reports reduces transparency on the use of program funds and represents an instance of noncompliance with the requirements of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200. Subrecipient Monitoring Failure to communicate the required information to subrecipients exposes the Center to an undue risk of misuse of federal funds. Context Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles A sample of 16 salaries and wages expenditures totaling approximately $57,000 were selected for audit from a population of approximately $402,000 in salaries and wages expenditures. Our test found four instances in which salaries and wages were erroneously recorded under the R&D Cluster program. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. A sample of 24 non salaries and wages related expenditures totaling approximately $98,000 were selected for audit from a population of approximately $601,000 in non salaries and wages related expenditures. Our test found three instances in which documentation of the Fiscal Officer approval of the non salaries and wages related expenditures were not properly retained. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. Reporting A sample of two subawards totaling approximately $129,000 were selected for audit from a population of two subawards totaling approximately $129,000. Our test found two instances in which the FFATA reports were not completed in a timely manner. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. Subrecipient Monitoring A sample of one subaward totaling approximately $92,000 was selected for audit from a population of two subawards totaling approximately $129,000. Our test found one instance in which the federal assistance listing number was not properly communicated to the subrecipient upon execution of the subaward agreement. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. Repeat Finding This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation We recommend that the Center perform the following to ensure compliance: Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles With regards to salaries and wages expenditures, ensure the level of effort allocation percentages on an individual’s “Personnel Budget Form” are updated in an accurate and timely manner. Also, ensure that correcting adjustments, as necessary, are calculated and recorded within the general ledger in an accurate manner. With regards to non salaries and wages expenditures, ensure that documentation is maintained evidencing Fiscal Officer approval of the expenditure. Reporting Ensure that required FFATA reports are completed in a timely and accurate manner. Subrecipient Monitoring Ensure that information required pursuant to Section 200.332 – Requirements for pass-through entities of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200 is properly communicated to subrecipients upon execution of a subaward agreement. Cause and View of Responsible Officials Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles New payroll allocation procedures were implemented during fiscal 2023 in an effort to streamline the allocation process. Starting in fiscal 2024, management has reverted to the fiscal 2022 payroll allocation procedures to ensure that the proper percentages are used in calculating charges to its contracts and grants. The procedures used in fiscal 2022 and prior resulted in clean audit opinions and can be trusted to allocate payroll properly. The allocation errors noted during the audit were corrected in the subsequent fiscal year. Reporting The FFATA report was filed in fiscal 2024. Procedures were modified to ensure that necessary information is requested from Center subaward recipients to assist in preparing the FFATA reports. Furthermore, the subaward agreement template was revised to make reference to the need for filing FFATA reports. Subrecipient Monitoring Management has revised procedures to ensure that the subaward recipients are notified of the federal assistance listing number. In addition, Finance staff have been reminded of the necessity to communicate the assistance number to our subaward recipients.

$4,521 Finding No. 2023 003: Activities Allowed and Unallowed (Control Deficiency) Allowable Costs and Cost Principles (Control Deficiency) Reporting (Control Deficiency) Subrecipient Monitoring (Control Deficiency) Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Commerce U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Agency for International Development Assistance Listing Number and Title: 11.431 – Climate and Atmospheric Research 11.468 – Applied Meteorological Research 15.820 – National and Regional Climate Adaptation on Science Centers 98.001 – Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas Condition During our audit, we noted the following instances of noncompliance: Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles We noted the following with regards to salaries and wages expenditures selected for testing: Due to the application of an incorrect allocation rate, we noted salaries and wages were inaccurately allocated to the Research and Development Cluster (“R&D Cluster”) program for 4 out of 16 individuals selected for testing. We noted that at the end of the fiscal year management recorded an adjustment in an attempt to correct the error, however, for two of the impacted individuals the amounts calculated in the adjustment were inaccurate. For the remaining two individuals, the amounts calculated in the adjustment were accurate, however the program accounts to which such costs were approved to be allocated as stated per the individual’s “Personnel Budget Form” did not agree to the actual program accounts to which the expenses were recorded in the Center’s general ledger. In addition to the samples selected for testing, we noted salaries and wages were inaccurately allocated to the R&D Cluster program for one individual due to the application of an incorrect allocation rate. We noted the following with regards to non-salaries and wages expenditures selected for testing: We noted that for 3 out of 24 non salaries and wages expenditures selected for testing, we were unable to obtain documentation evidencing Fiscal Officer approval of the expenditure. Reporting We noted two instances in which the Center did not complete the reporting required by Section 2, Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (“FFATA”) for subgrants made during 2023. Subrecipient Monitoring We noted an instance in which the Center did not properly communicate the federal assistance listing number to a subrecipient upon execution of the subaward agreement. Criteria Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles Section 200.403 – Factors affecting allowability of costs of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200, states “costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: (a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles… (g) Be adequately documented.” Reporting Section 2, Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, of the FFATA requires an entity to report subcontracts made under federally-awarded contracts by the end of the month following the month in which the prime recipient awards any subgrant greater than or equal to $30,000. Section 2, Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, of the FFATA also specifies the data elements to be included by an entity in their reporting submission. Subrecipient Monitoring Section 200.332 – Requirements for pass-through entities of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200, states “All pass-through entities must: (a) Ensure that every subaward is clearly identified to the subrecipient as a subaward and includes the following information at the time of the subaward and if any of these data elements change, include the changes in subsequent subaward modification. When some of this information is not available, the pass-through entity must provide the best information available to describe the Federal award and subaward. Required information includes: (xii) Assistance Listings Number and Title; the pass-through entity must identify the dollar amount made available under each Federal award and the Assistance Listings Number at time of disbursement;” Cause Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles For the identified instances of noncompliance associated with salaries and wages expenditures, we were informed by management that the inaccurate allocation of amounts to the R&D Cluster program may be due to the untimely updating of level of effort allocation percentages on the individual’s “Personnel Budget Form.” The inaccurate calculation of amounts included in the correcting adjustment and the recordation of amounts to inaccurate program accounts within the Center’s general ledger may be attributed to general management oversight. For the identified instances of noncompliance associated with non salaries and wages expenditures, we were informed by management that although the Fiscal Officer has the ability to electronically approve transactions within the general ledger, the historical retention of such information is an additional service which management did not elect to activate. Reporting The lack of FFATA reporting may be attributed to general management oversight. Subrecipient Monitoring We were informed by management that an outdated template which did not include a field for the federal assistance listing number was utilized when executing the subaward agreement. Effect Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles Failure to adhere to the allowable cost principles of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200 exposes the Center to an undue risk of misuse of federal funds. Furthermore, the inaccurate calculation of salaries and wages expenditures included in the correcting adjustment resulted in the following: • An overstatement of $24 in expenditures allocated to the U.S. Agency for International Development – Foreign Assistance for Program Overseas grant within the R&D Cluster grant. • An understatement of $24 in expenditures allocated to the Cultural, Technical and Educational Centers grant. Reporting Failure to file required reports reduces transparency on the use of program funds and represents an instance of noncompliance with the requirements of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200. Subrecipient Monitoring Failure to communicate the required information to subrecipients exposes the Center to an undue risk of misuse of federal funds. Context Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles A sample of 16 salaries and wages expenditures totaling approximately $57,000 were selected for audit from a population of approximately $402,000 in salaries and wages expenditures. Our test found four instances in which salaries and wages were erroneously recorded under the R&D Cluster program. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. A sample of 24 non salaries and wages related expenditures totaling approximately $98,000 were selected for audit from a population of approximately $601,000 in non salaries and wages related expenditures. Our test found three instances in which documentation of the Fiscal Officer approval of the non salaries and wages related expenditures were not properly retained. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. Reporting A sample of two subawards totaling approximately $129,000 were selected for audit from a population of two subawards totaling approximately $129,000. Our test found two instances in which the FFATA reports were not completed in a timely manner. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. Subrecipient Monitoring A sample of one subaward totaling approximately $92,000 was selected for audit from a population of two subawards totaling approximately $129,000. Our test found one instance in which the federal assistance listing number was not properly communicated to the subrecipient upon execution of the subaward agreement. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. Repeat Finding This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation We recommend that the Center perform the following to ensure compliance: Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles With regards to salaries and wages expenditures, ensure the level of effort allocation percentages on an individual’s “Personnel Budget Form” are updated in an accurate and timely manner. Also, ensure that correcting adjustments, as necessary, are calculated and recorded within the general ledger in an accurate manner. With regards to non salaries and wages expenditures, ensure that documentation is maintained evidencing Fiscal Officer approval of the expenditure. Reporting Ensure that required FFATA reports are completed in a timely and accurate manner. Subrecipient Monitoring Ensure that information required pursuant to Section 200.332 – Requirements for pass-through entities of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200 is properly communicated to subrecipients upon execution of a subaward agreement. Cause and View of Responsible Officials Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles New payroll allocation procedures were implemented during fiscal 2023 in an effort to streamline the allocation process. Starting in fiscal 2024, management has reverted to the fiscal 2022 payroll allocation procedures to ensure that the proper percentages are used in calculating charges to its contracts and grants. The procedures used in fiscal 2022 and prior resulted in clean audit opinions and can be trusted to allocate payroll properly. The allocation errors noted during the audit were corrected in the subsequent fiscal year. Reporting The FFATA report was filed in fiscal 2024. Procedures were modified to ensure that necessary information is requested from Center subaward recipients to assist in preparing the FFATA reports. Furthermore, the subaward agreement template was revised to make reference to the need for filing FFATA reports. Subrecipient Monitoring Management has revised procedures to ensure that the subaward recipients are notified of the federal assistance listing number. In addition, Finance staff have been reminded of the necessity to communicate the assistance number to our subaward recipients.

$4,521 Finding No. 2023 003: Activities Allowed and Unallowed (Control Deficiency) Allowable Costs and Cost Principles (Control Deficiency) Reporting (Control Deficiency) Subrecipient Monitoring (Control Deficiency) Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Commerce U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Agency for International Development Assistance Listing Number and Title: 11.431 – Climate and Atmospheric Research 11.468 – Applied Meteorological Research 15.820 – National and Regional Climate Adaptation on Science Centers 98.001 – Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas Condition During our audit, we noted the following instances of noncompliance: Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles We noted the following with regards to salaries and wages expenditures selected for testing: Due to the application of an incorrect allocation rate, we noted salaries and wages were inaccurately allocated to the Research and Development Cluster (“R&D Cluster”) program for 4 out of 16 individuals selected for testing. We noted that at the end of the fiscal year management recorded an adjustment in an attempt to correct the error, however, for two of the impacted individuals the amounts calculated in the adjustment were inaccurate. For the remaining two individuals, the amounts calculated in the adjustment were accurate, however the program accounts to which such costs were approved to be allocated as stated per the individual’s “Personnel Budget Form” did not agree to the actual program accounts to which the expenses were recorded in the Center’s general ledger. In addition to the samples selected for testing, we noted salaries and wages were inaccurately allocated to the R&D Cluster program for one individual due to the application of an incorrect allocation rate. We noted the following with regards to non-salaries and wages expenditures selected for testing: We noted that for 3 out of 24 non salaries and wages expenditures selected for testing, we were unable to obtain documentation evidencing Fiscal Officer approval of the expenditure. Reporting We noted two instances in which the Center did not complete the reporting required by Section 2, Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (“FFATA”) for subgrants made during 2023. Subrecipient Monitoring We noted an instance in which the Center did not properly communicate the federal assistance listing number to a subrecipient upon execution of the subaward agreement. Criteria Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles Section 200.403 – Factors affecting allowability of costs of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200, states “costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards: (a) Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles… (g) Be adequately documented.” Reporting Section 2, Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, of the FFATA requires an entity to report subcontracts made under federally-awarded contracts by the end of the month following the month in which the prime recipient awards any subgrant greater than or equal to $30,000. Section 2, Full Disclosure of Entities Receiving Federal Funding, of the FFATA also specifies the data elements to be included by an entity in their reporting submission. Subrecipient Monitoring Section 200.332 – Requirements for pass-through entities of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200, states “All pass-through entities must: (a) Ensure that every subaward is clearly identified to the subrecipient as a subaward and includes the following information at the time of the subaward and if any of these data elements change, include the changes in subsequent subaward modification. When some of this information is not available, the pass-through entity must provide the best information available to describe the Federal award and subaward. Required information includes: (xii) Assistance Listings Number and Title; the pass-through entity must identify the dollar amount made available under each Federal award and the Assistance Listings Number at time of disbursement;” Cause Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles For the identified instances of noncompliance associated with salaries and wages expenditures, we were informed by management that the inaccurate allocation of amounts to the R&D Cluster program may be due to the untimely updating of level of effort allocation percentages on the individual’s “Personnel Budget Form.” The inaccurate calculation of amounts included in the correcting adjustment and the recordation of amounts to inaccurate program accounts within the Center’s general ledger may be attributed to general management oversight. For the identified instances of noncompliance associated with non salaries and wages expenditures, we were informed by management that although the Fiscal Officer has the ability to electronically approve transactions within the general ledger, the historical retention of such information is an additional service which management did not elect to activate. Reporting The lack of FFATA reporting may be attributed to general management oversight. Subrecipient Monitoring We were informed by management that an outdated template which did not include a field for the federal assistance listing number was utilized when executing the subaward agreement. Effect Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles Failure to adhere to the allowable cost principles of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200 exposes the Center to an undue risk of misuse of federal funds. Furthermore, the inaccurate calculation of salaries and wages expenditures included in the correcting adjustment resulted in the following: • An overstatement of $24 in expenditures allocated to the U.S. Agency for International Development – Foreign Assistance for Program Overseas grant within the R&D Cluster grant. • An understatement of $24 in expenditures allocated to the Cultural, Technical and Educational Centers grant. Reporting Failure to file required reports reduces transparency on the use of program funds and represents an instance of noncompliance with the requirements of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200. Subrecipient Monitoring Failure to communicate the required information to subrecipients exposes the Center to an undue risk of misuse of federal funds. Context Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles A sample of 16 salaries and wages expenditures totaling approximately $57,000 were selected for audit from a population of approximately $402,000 in salaries and wages expenditures. Our test found four instances in which salaries and wages were erroneously recorded under the R&D Cluster program. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. A sample of 24 non salaries and wages related expenditures totaling approximately $98,000 were selected for audit from a population of approximately $601,000 in non salaries and wages related expenditures. Our test found three instances in which documentation of the Fiscal Officer approval of the non salaries and wages related expenditures were not properly retained. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. Reporting A sample of two subawards totaling approximately $129,000 were selected for audit from a population of two subawards totaling approximately $129,000. Our test found two instances in which the FFATA reports were not completed in a timely manner. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. Subrecipient Monitoring A sample of one subaward totaling approximately $92,000 was selected for audit from a population of two subawards totaling approximately $129,000. Our test found one instance in which the federal assistance listing number was not properly communicated to the subrecipient upon execution of the subaward agreement. Our sample is a statistically valid sample. Repeat Finding This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation We recommend that the Center perform the following to ensure compliance: Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles With regards to salaries and wages expenditures, ensure the level of effort allocation percentages on an individual’s “Personnel Budget Form” are updated in an accurate and timely manner. Also, ensure that correcting adjustments, as necessary, are calculated and recorded within the general ledger in an accurate manner. With regards to non salaries and wages expenditures, ensure that documentation is maintained evidencing Fiscal Officer approval of the expenditure. Reporting Ensure that required FFATA reports are completed in a timely and accurate manner. Subrecipient Monitoring Ensure that information required pursuant to Section 200.332 – Requirements for pass-through entities of Title 2 U.S. CFR Part 200 is properly communicated to subrecipients upon execution of a subaward agreement. Cause and View of Responsible Officials Activities Allowed and Unallowed / Allowable Costs and Cost Principles New payroll allocation procedures were implemented during fiscal 2023 in an effort to streamline the allocation process. Starting in fiscal 2024, management has reverted to the fiscal 2022 payroll allocation procedures to ensure that the proper percentages are used in calculating charges to its contracts and grants. The procedures used in fiscal 2022 and prior resulted in clean audit opinions and can be trusted to allocate payroll properly. The allocation errors noted during the audit were corrected in the subsequent fiscal year. Reporting The FFATA report was filed in fiscal 2024. Procedures were modified to ensure that necessary information is requested from Center subaward recipients to assist in preparing the FFATA reports. Furthermore, the subaward agreement template was revised to make reference to the need for filing FFATA reports. Subrecipient Monitoring Management has revised procedures to ensure that the subaward recipients are notified of the federal assistance listing number. In addition, Finance staff have been reminded of the necessity to communicate the assistance number to our subaward recipients.