Audit 401216

Inadequate Internal Controls over Grant-Funded Equipment Maintenance and Inventory and Noncompliance with Biennial Inventory Count Requirement Name of Federal agency: U.S. Department of the Interior Name of applicable pass-through entity: State of Alaska, Department of Community and Economic Development Federal program: National Petroleum Reserve – Alaska Assistance listing number: 15.439 Federal Award Number(s): Various Federal award period: July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025 Criteria: According to 2 CFR 200.313(d)(2), a physical inventory of the property must be taken and the results reconciled with property records at least once every two years and 2 CFR 200.313(d)(4) states that adequate maintenance procedures must be developed to keep the property in good condition. Additionally, 2 CFR 200.303 requires non-Federal entities receiving Federal awards to establish and maintain internal controls designed to reasonably ensure compliance with Federal laws, regulations, and program compliance requirements. Condition Found: The Borough was unable to provide sufficient and appropriate evidence, including complete documentation, to demonstrate compliance with the biennial physical inventory requirement for grant funded equipment under the Equipment and Real Property Management compliance requirements. Specifically, no documentation was available to support whether a physical inventory was conducted in FY2024, and the FY2025 inventory was incomplete. Additionally, there was not a control designed to ensure equipment maintenance was performed as scheduled. Cause: While the Borough had an established general policy regarding physical inventory counts and equipment maintenance, the policy lacked sufficient detail to ensure consistent implementation. Specifically, the policy did not clearly define roles and responsibilities for conducting inventory counts, establish procedures for performing the inventory counts and the timing of such counts, or identify the individuals responsible for reviewing and approving inventory results and maintenance logs. In addition, organizational changes during FY2024, including the separation of the Administration and Finance departments, contributed to a breakdown in the continuity of inventory management functions. Staff turnover and a lack of training for new employees further contributed to the insufficient execution of required inventory management procedures. Possible Asserted Effect: Failure to establish effective internal controls over the biennial inventory count and maintenance requirements increases the risk that grant-funded equipment may be lost, misappropriated, or not properly accounted for, which could result in questioned costs, inaccurate financial reporting, and noncompliance with federal award requirements. Questioned Costs: None Repeat Finding: A similar finding was not reported in the prior year audit. Statistical Sampling: The sample was not intended to be, and was not, a statistically valid sample. Recommendation: We recommend the Borough establish internal controls to ensure biennial inventory counts for grant-funded equipment are properly conducted, documented, and formally reconciled with the property records and to ensure equipment is kept in good condition. Views of Responsible Officials: Management concurs with the finding. In response, management will continue to implement additional controls to strengthen compliance with equipment and real property management requirements, including improvements to inventory procedures, documentation practices, and oversight. The Department of Finance will work in coordination with the Department of Administration to provide training to all relevant departments on federal guidelines and compliance requirements related to assets purchased with federal grant funds. Management will continue to monitor these controls and take further corrective action, as necessary, to ensure ongoing compliance with applicable federal requirements.