Finding: 2024-001 Time/Salary Allocations (Significant Deficiency) Information on the Federal Programs: ALN #10.937 Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities Criteria or Specific Requirement (including Statutory, Regulatory, or Other Citation): CFR §200.430 Compensation—personal services. States; (g) Standards for Documentation of Personnel Expenses (1) Charges to Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. These records must: (i) Be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated; (vii) Support the distribution of the employee’s salary or wages among specific activities or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one Federal award; a Federal award and non-Federal award; an indirect cost activity and a direct cost activity; two or more indirect activities, which are allocated using different allocation bases; or an unallowable activity and a direct or indirect cost activity. Condition: During our audit of CIF’s compensation practices, we noted that salaries and benefits charged to Federal programs were allocated using predetermined estimates rather than contemporaneous records reflecting actual time spent. These allocations were not supported by detailed documentation, such as timekeeping records or personnel activity reports. Cause: CIF has not implemented a system for documenting time and effort in a manner that complies with Federal requirements. The current process relies on estimates rather than actual, verifiable work performed. Effect or Potential Effect: Without accurate and documented time and effort reporting, there is a risk that Federal awards are either overcharged or undercharged for salaries and benefits. This creates the potential for noncompliance with Federal cost principles, and could lead to disallowed costs in the event of a monitoring or program audit. For this program under audit, we identified $466,789 in questioned costs, representing the total amount of unsupported salary charges to this program. Such deficiencies could also impair the Organization's eligibility for future Federal funding.Questioned Costs: $466,789 (all salaries and benefits changed to ALN #10.937) Context: We tested a statistically valid sample of employee salaries charged to Federal awards. The deficiencies noted were consistent across the sample population, indicating a systemic issue rather than isolated exceptions. Identification as a Repeat Finding, if Applicable: N/A Recommendation: We recommend that CIF strengthen its payroll allocation procedures to ensure compliance with 2 CFR §200.430. Specifically, we advise the following steps: 1. Implement Time and Effort Reporting: All employees whose salaries are charged in whole or in part to Federal awards should complete project-specific timesheets that record actual time spent on each cost objective or funding source. 2. Certifications and Approvals: Timesheets should be signed by the employee and reviewed and certified by their direct supervisor to confirm accuracy. 3. Allocate Based on Actual Time: Salaries and benefits should be allocated to funding sources based on the proportion of actual time worked, as indicated in approved timesheets, rather than based on estimates. 4. Incorporate into Internal Controls: These procedures should be incorporated into CIF’s internal control system and formally documented in its accounting policies and procedures manual. 5. Training and Oversight: Staff responsible for managing payroll allocations and Federal reporting should receive training on Federal time and effort requirements. Periodic internal reviews should be conducted to ensure adherence. By implementing these practices, CIF will significantly reduce the risk of questioned costs, improve compliance with Federal grant requirements, and strengthen the reliability of its financial reporting.
Finding: 2024-002 Subrecipient Monitoring (Significant Deficiency) Information on the Federal Programs: ALN #10.937 Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities Criteria or Specific Requirement (including Statutory, Regulatory, or Other Citation): Per 2 CFR 200.332 Requirements for pass-through entities: Pass-through entities must clearly identify to subrecipients the award information, including the Assistance Listing number, subrecipient’s UEI, Federal award identification number, and Federal award project title (§200.332(a)(1)). Pass-through entities must evaluate each subrecipient’s risk of noncompliance to determine the appropriate subrecipient monitoring (§200.332(b)). Pass-through entities must monitor the activities of subrecipients as necessary to ensure compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the subaward (§200.332(d)). Pass-through entities must verify that every subrecipient required to have an audit under 2 CFR 200 Subpart F has one completed, and issue management decisions on findings (§200.332(g)). Condition: During our testing of subrecipient monitoring, we noted several deficiencies: 1. Subaward agreements were structured more like subcontracts rather than subrecipient agreements and did not include all elements required under 2 CFR 200.332(a), such as the subrecipient’s UEI and Assistance Listing number. 2. Subrecipients were required to submit periodic invoices for reimbursement instead of financial reports detailing costs incurred by budget line item, cumulative expenditures, cash receipts, and cash balances. 3. CIF did not verify the subrecipient’s audit requirements in a timely manner as required under 2 CFR 200.332(g). 4. Pre-award risk assessments were completed; however, the assessments were undated, preventing the audit team from verifying that they occurred prior to subaward execution. Additionally, the monitoring procedures described in policy were not clearly linked to assessed risk levels, and in certain instances, subrecipients with no prior Federal grant management experience were assigned a “low risk” classification. Cause: These conditions occurred due to a lack of formalized procedures to align subrecipient agreements, reporting requirements, and monitoring activities with the specific requirements of 2 CFR 200.332. Management relied on existing subcontract templates and internal policies that were not fully updated to reflect Uniform Guidance requirements. Effect or Potential Effect: Failure to properly structure subaward agreements, obtain adequate financial reporting, and timely verify audit requirements, increases the risk that subrecipients may not comply with Federal statutes and regulations. Questioned Costs: N/A Context: We tested a statistically valid sample of subawards charged to Federal awards. The deficiencies noted were consistent across the sample population, indicating a systemic issue rather than isolated exceptions. Identification as a Repeat Finding, if Applicable: N/ARecommendation: We recommend that management: Update subaward agreement templates to include all elements required under 2 CFR 200.332(a). Require subrecipients to submit periodic financial reports by budget line item, cumulative expenditures, cash receipts, and cash balances, rather than invoices alone. Establish procedures to ensure subrecipient audit requirements are verified and documented in a timely manner in accordance with 2 CFR 200.332(g). CIF should document the impact of any subrecipient audit findings on the program and the planned corrective action. Revise pre-award risk assessment procedures to include dating and ensure that results are documented prior to subaward execution. Strengthen policies to ensure monitoring procedures are explicitly linked to risk assessment results, with higher levels of oversight required for subrecipients new to Federal grant management.
Finding: 2024-003 Timely Financial and Programmatic Reporting (Significant Deficiency) Information on the Federal Programs: ALN #10.937 Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities Criteria or Specific Requirement (including Statutory, Regulatory, or Other Citation): Per 2 CFR 200.328(b)(1), recipients must submit financial reports at intervals required by the Federal awarding agency, but no less frequently than annually and no more frequently than quarterly. Reports must be submitted no later than 30 calendar days after the reporting period end date. Per 2 CFR 200.329(b), recipients are required to submit performance reports at intervals required by the Federal awarding agency, but no less frequently than annually and no more frequently than quarterly. Performance reports must also be submitted no later than 30 calendar days after the reporting period end date.Condition: During our testing of quarterly reporting requirements, we noted the following: Financial Reports: Four of four (100%) quarterly financial reports were submitted after the 30-day deadline. Performance Reports: Three of four (75%) quarterly performance reports were submitted after the 30-day deadline. Detailed Progress Reports: CIF was unable to provide evidence of submission (such as electronic confirmation or date-stamped copies). As a result, we were unable to determine whether these reports were submitted timely. Cause: These issues occurred due to delays in internal review processes and the absence of a robust tracking system for reporting deadlines. Additionally, documentation supporting the submission of the detailed progress reports was not retained. Effect or Potential Effect: Untimely submission of required reports limits the Federal awarding agency’s ability to evaluate financial and program performance in a timely manner. The lack of submission documentation for detailed progress reports also creates a risk that required reports may not be submitted at all, which could impact continued funding, create compliance findings, and impair the Federal awarding agency’s oversight responsibilities. Questioned Costs: N/A Context: Our testing included 100% of required quarterly reports for the audit period. We identified late submission for 100% of financial reports and 75% of performance reports. For detailed progress reports, no documentation was available to confirm submission for the entire period reviewed. Identification as a Repeat Finding, if Applicable: N/A Recommendation: We recommend that management: 1. Implement controls, such as a reporting calendar with automated reminders, to ensure that financial and performance reports are prepared, reviewed, and submitted within 30 days of the quarter-end, in compliance with 2 CFR 200.328(b)(1) and 2 CFR 200.329(b). 2. Retain submission confirmations for all reports, including detailed progress reports, to provide an audit trail and evidence of compliance with Federal requirements.
Finding: 2024-004 Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) Subaward Reporting (Significant Deficiency) Information on the Federal Programs: ALN #10.937 Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities Criteria or Specific Requirement (including Statutory, Regulatory, or Other Citation): As noted in 2 CFR Part 170, recipients (i.e. direct recipients) of grants or cooperative agreements who make first tier subawards of $30,000 or more are required to register in the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act Subaward Reporting System (FSRS) and report subaward data through FSRS. Prime awardees are required to file a FFATA sub-award report by the end of the month following the month in which the prime recipient awards any subaward with a value greater than or equal to $30,000.Condition: During our audit, we noted that subaward FFATA reporting was not completed within the required timeframe. The reports were ultimately filed during the audit sampling phase. Cause: Administrative oversight. Effect or Potential Effect: Noncompliance with FFATA reporting requirements could potentially result in withholding of future payments, award suspension or termination, and ineligibility for future awards. Questioned Costs: N/A Context: Our testwork covered 100% of subaward relationships. Late reporting was noted for all subawards tested. The control deficiency is considered systemic in nature. Identification as a Repeat Finding, if Applicable: N/A Recommendation: We recommend that management take steps to raise awareness of the FFATA reporting deadlines to those staff responsible for maintaining compliance with the FFATA reporting requirements. Additionally, we recommend that CIF enhance documentation related to review and approval of such reports prior to submission.
Finding: 2024-005 Untimely Submission to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse (Significant Deficiency) Information on the Federal Programs: ALN #10.937 Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities Criteria or Specific Requirement (including Statutory, Regulatory, or Other Citation): Per 2 CFR 200.512(a), an auditee must submit the reporting package, including the data collection form (SF-SAC) and audited financial statements, to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse (FAC) within the earlier of 30 calendar days after receipt of the auditor’s report, or nine months after the end of the auditee’s fiscal year. The FAC is responsible for making the reporting package publicly available. Condition: CIF’s fiscal year ended June 30, 2024. Accordingly, the Uniform Guidance audit report was required to be submitted to the FAC by March 31, 2025. The audit report was not submitted by this deadline. Cause: The untimely submission occurred because the auditee did not engage an auditor until after the fiscal year had ended, which delayed the commencement of audit fieldwork and the finalization of the reporting package. Effect or Potential Effect: Failure to submit the reporting package to the FAC by the required deadline results in noncompliance with Federal requirements. Untimely submission may affect the auditee’s eligibility for future Federal funding, increase Federal oversight, and negatively impact the auditee’s compliance history.Questioned Costs: N/A Context: This condition applied to the FY 2024 audit reporting package, which was not submitted to the FAC by the required due date of March 31, 2025. Identification as a Repeat Finding, if Applicable: N/A Recommendation: We recommend that management establish a process to ensure that the auditor is engaged on a timely basis, preferably before the fiscal year-end, and assign responsibility for monitoring audit submission deadlines so that future reporting packages are submitted to the FAC within the timeframes required by 2 CFR 200.512(a).
Finding: 2024-006 Procurement, Suspension, and Debarment (Significant Deficiency) Information on the Federal Programs: ALN #10.937 Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities Criteria or Specific Requirement (including Statutory, Regulatory, or Other Citation): 2 CFR 200.320(a)(1)(iv) allows for an increased micro-purchase threshold of up to $50,000 only if the non-Federal entity self-certifies that it meets specific conditions, including internal controls, organizational risk, and procurement oversight capacity. 2 CFR 200.214 prohibits contracting with or making subawards to parties that are suspended or debarred, and entities are required to verify that contractors are not listed on the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) at the time of contact/award. 2 CFR 200.318(c)(1) requires non-Federal entities to maintain written standards of conduct covering conflicts of interest and governing the performance of employees engaged in the selection, award, and administration of contracts. Condition: Our testing identified the following exceptions: 1. CIF did not maintain a comprehensive written procurement, suspension, and debarment policy during the fiscal year under audit. A draft policy was developed during the audit planning phase and is pending approval from the Board of Directors. 2. The draft policy self-certified a micro-purchase threshold of $50,000, which is not appropriate given that CIF does not meet all criteria required under 2 CFR 200.320(a)(1)(iv), and the elevated threshold is excessive relative to the size and scope of the Organization’s operations. 3. CIF provided SAM.gov suspension and debarment checks for contractors in our sample; however, the checks were undated, and we were unable to confirm that the verification was performed at the time of contract execution. 4. CIF did not maintain a conflict of interest policy during the fiscal year under audit, as required by 2 CFR 200.318(c)(1). While a draft conflict of interest policy was included in the draft procurement policy, it was not in effect during the year under audit. Cause: These conditions occurred because the Organization did not have formalized procurement policies and procedures in place throughout the year.Effect or Potential Effect: Failure to maintain compliant procurement and conflict of interest policies and procedures increases the risk that Federal funds may be spent in a manner inconsistent with Uniform Guidance requirements. Questioned Costs: $96,051 (all contractual expenses changed to ALN #10.937) Context: We tested a statistically valid sample of contractual relationships charged to Federal awards. The deficiencies noted were consistent across the sample population, indicating a systemic issue rather than isolated exceptions. Identification as a Repeat Finding, if Applicable: N/A Recommendation: We recommend that management: 1. Finalize and implement a comprehensive procurement, suspension, and debarment policy that incorporates all requirements of 2 CFR 200.318–200.320. 2. Amend the draft policy to adopt a micro-purchase threshold appropriate for the Organization’s size and risk profile, consistent with 2 CFR 200.320(a)(1)(iv). 3. Ensure that SAM.gov checks are performed and documented with date-stamps at the time of contract execution. 4. Adopt and enforce a formal conflict of interest policy as required by 2 CFR 200.318(c)(1), and amend the policy to require annual (written) reaffirmations from all employees and Board members.